Pair Killed by Grizzly in Banff Were ‘Most Cautious People’ who ‘Knew Bear Protocol’, Family Says

Relatives of a couple killed by a grizzly bear in Canada said Monday morning that the two people involved were experienced, cautious backcountry hikers.

Rangers found the bodies Saturday at Banff National Park, in Alberta, after hiking through the wilderness in response to an emergency call. They found a grizzly bear which was displaying "aggressive behavior" and euthanized it.

The names of the two people who were killed have not yet been released by authorities. Their dog was also killed in the attack.

"They lived for being in the backcountry and were two of the most cautious people I know," an unidentified family member said in a statement released to CBC News. "They knew bear protocol and followed it to a tee."

Part of that protocol included setting up camp before dark, with the family member adding that they had received notification of the couple doing this at around 5 p.m. Friday.

"They checked in every night. This means they were not traveling after dark and they were not setting up camp when the attack happened," they added.

Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety and More, as well as a friend of the family, told Reuters that encounters like this are increasing.

"It's really just the reason why we're seeing more attacks, which is more people heading outdoors and unfortunately not being educated on this," she told the outlet.

Parks Canada says there are around 65 grizzlies in Banff National Park, but many do not spend their entire lives within the parks.

The United States has seen some other bear attacks in 2023. In Arizona earlier this year, a man was mauled to death by a bear, while a woman was killed by a grizzly bear at Yellowstone National Park in July.

Parks Canada said bears face challenges when it comes to their habitats, both from human activity as well as climate change pushing them away from their homes.

A temporary closure order is in place around the Red Deer and Panther valleys - the area where the couple was killed.