©Léonard Cotte via Unsplash
A retired couple from Regina, Canada, were killed in a bear attack near McTavish Lake in northern Saskatchewan. The province has confirmed that a black bear was involved and that the animal has since been euthanized.
The victims are Jay and Deb MacDonald. According to family members, they had flown to their cabin near the remote lake on Wednesday for a short trip and some fishing. When they stopped responding to calls, the family raised the alarm. Jay was found dead on the shore of the lake, while Deb’s body was not found until the next day in the woods near the cabin. The couple were in their early seventies and already retired. Deb had previously worked as a nurse, and Jay in the agricultural machinery industry.
Black bear found andeuthanized
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Community Safety announced on Friday that a black bear was responsible for the fatal attack. Game wardens located the animal near the scene of the incident and euthanized it. The carcass is being examined at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon to determine what may have caused the animal to become aggressive. Authorities are warning residents, cabin owners, and visitors to exercise extra caution and avoid confrontations with wild animals. Fatal bear attacks are rare in Saskatchewan, Canada, but this is already the second fatal attack this year. In May, a 27-year-old man was also killed in an attack at a remote uranium site in the northern part of the province. Experts point out that aggressive behavior in black bears is often food-driven and that vigilance, knowledge of the surroundings, and bear spray remain important precautions.
©Léonard Cotte via Unsplash - illustrative image