Also posted in NA may one you can post more details



http://www.freerepublic.com/fo...f-chat/3153794/posts

An energy company worker has been killed by a black bear at a base in the tar sands region of the Canadian province of Alberta, the firm has said. The 36-year-old woman was declared dead at the scene on Wednesday. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police later shot and killed the male bear, which had remained in the area. Bears are emerging from hibernation near the Suncor Energy Inc oil sands mining operation, 25km (15.5m) north of Fort McMurray

Very rare occurrence but very sad too.

Having spent many many days in the bush with bears, this is in fact a very rare case of unfortunate circumstances.

Condolences

I guess it depends on what you call rare. During my life time it seems like one or two people get killed every year by black bears in North America. I can recall quite a few right off the top of my head.

It is rare in relation to man hours in the field, but certainly not shocking……. and typically always a boar.

How long ago was it when the farmer was killed by a blackie in Manitoba? A camper in Ontario, a surveyor in northern BC?

Hell I can remember our neighbour in central BC some years ago who had their child killed by a black bear. A very sad situation.

Rare only in odds.

I think the rare part has been force feed us my the green anti crowd.

all one has to do is google bear attacks and more and more come up.

The bear population is booming across all its range thus more contacts with humans

Last death from a black bear attack in Alberta was 13 years ago I think.....considering the number of bears we have in this province, predatory attacks like this are very rare.

Last oil field related deaths were in 1980 when a predatory black bear killed two workers near Zama city, also in northern alberta.

Grizz

There was 2-3 people a year killed by Black bears along the Alaska Highway the 15 years I lived in Fort Nelson.

I dunno how accurate this is but:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...cks_in_North_America

I'd suspect that's fairly accurate...basically one fatal black bear attack in all of North America per year in the past 25 years. They are extremely rare.

I am working West of Swan Hills and we just had our first Grizzly of the year near the lease.

Did a little searching and found that AB Fins and feathers killed 145 problem bears in 2011 so although fatal attacks are rare, Human bear conflict in AB is fairly common.
FWIW there was no breakdown on the bears e.g. Black- grizzly or reason for removal of bears.

Heck, we don't even live in REAL bear country, like 100km NW of Calgary and the season has just begun.

http://www.mountainviewbearsma..._activity_report.php

Grizz