Bear attacks Lake Louise jogger

[Emily]

from the Edmonton Sun
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta ... 1-sun.html
Fri, July 18, 2008
Jogger attacked by bear
By BILL KAUFMANN, SUN MEDIA



LAKE LOUISE -- Despite 30 minutes of terror that included playing dead while a bear sank its teeth into her flesh, a Belgian woman escaped with minor injuries.

Charisse D'hamers, 23, of Antwerp was jogging alone on a section of abandoned roadway northwest of Lake Louise Wednesday evening when she surprised a black bear that was only three metres away, said Hal Morrison, a Parks Canada specialist in conflict between humans and wildlife.

"The bear acted aggressively and took little rushes -- she kept backing away ... this went on for 100 metres," he said.

D'hamers, an avid hiker who is spending her second summer in the Rockies while working at the Lake Louise ski resort, tried doggedly to dissuade the medium-sized black bear along the old highway, which is now popular with joggers and cyclists.

"The young lady then tried a strategy of playing dead," said Morrison. "The bear walked around her, sniffing her and bit her on the legs, then bit her back."


At that point, the woman realized her ploy wasn't working and jumped up. At first, the bear resumed its aggressive posture but it eventually lost interest and D'hamers walked six kilometres back toward Lake Louise until she found a park warden.

She was treated for deep puncture wounds on both legs and her upper back at Banff's Mineral Springs hospital, but was released.

After she was bitten, Morrison said D'hamers reacted properly by changing tactics.

"Her quick thinking and togetherness helped her out of that situation," he said. "Playing dead is only applicable in very specific situations -- it comes with a lot of risks."

Traps have been set for the bear, though officials haven't decided if it'll be destroyed.

"Its behaviour was obviously of concern," said Morrison.