According to a Facebook post by BC’s Conservation Officer Services (BCCOS), an aggressive black bear may be in the Prince George area.
One Prince George resident was walking their dog at Forests For The World on Friday before their pet was attacked and killed by the bear.
Bear spray was used in the incident, and the bear has not been seen since the attack.
The incident occurred near the lookout tower, and the dog was off-leash at the time of the incident.
“The dog noticed the bear and ran off into the bushes and ended up being chased and killed by the black bear. The bear likely identified the small dog as a food source…Â There was no aggression towards the dog owner at the time of the incident,” said Eamon McArthur a Conservation Officer in PG.
BCCOS recommends travelling in groups, keeping pets on-leash, and carrying bear spray or noise-making devices.
“Bears will perceive dogs as a potential threat, much like an encounter with a wolf. While some bears will choose to avoid conflict by fleeing into the forest, some bears will stand their ground and attack a dog. Predatory attacks by bears on dogs are very unusual. However, defensive attacks by bears on dogs that result in injury or potentially death are more common. It is best practice to always keep pets on a leash in bear country,” said Vanessa Isnardy, WildSafeBC’s Provincial Coordinator.