Keep your dog on a leash, make plenty of noise and carry bear spray.
Those were the three basic pieces of advice Conservation Officer Service deputy chief Chris Doyle offered Thursday he fielded questions from local media Thursday related to the attack at Forests for the World earlier this week.
Reid Roberts suffered scratches and a 16-stitch cut to his hand as a result of a confrontation with a mother black bear just a couple hundred metres from the parking lot.
Doyle acknowledged Roberts' assertion that if not for Pacer, his border collie, his injuries could have been much worse.
"In this case, it appears the dog was protective of the victim and probably helped deter further injury or attack," Doyle said. "But at times, dogs will also cause an incident by either pursuing wildlife on their own or getting between a sow and a cub.
"Oftentimes, they may bring the aggressive animal back to the owner or the owner will try and intervene and protect their dog and we've had incidences where people have been injured because of those types of situations."
Roberts said Pacer was only about five feet ahead of him when they came across the bear who had been in a thicket of willows alongside the trail. He also said he will make more noise the next time he's out on the trail, which is a good step as far as Doyle is concerned.
"At times, bells will work," Doyle added.
In those rare instances when the bear is going to make a full-fledged attack, Doyle said bear spray has been found to be very useful. Roberts wasn't carrying bear spray but has asserted he wouldn't have had the time to use it anyway.
A conservation officer later euthanized the sow but her two cubs were tranquilized and transported to the Northern Lights wildlife shelter in Smithers. Doyle said the nature of the attack and its location were factors in the decision to put the her down.
"Our number one concern was ensuring there wasn't another incident that might occur," Doyle said. "And due to the location of the incident, it was likely that something else could happen."
Although the injuries were minor, the attack was "quite aggressive," Doyle added.
"Certainly, if that situation was to repeat itself, the circumstances could've been worse," Doyle said.
