In Canada’s Banff National Park, a grim discovery was made on September 30 as a couple and their dog were found dead, victims of an apparent grizzly bear attack. 

Details of this distressing occurrence were revealed via the park’s official Facebook page, underscoring the intrinsic dangers of wildlife intermingling with human visitors.

The couple, Jenny Gusse and Doug Inglis, both 62, keen outdoor adventurers, found themselves in the midst of a horrifying incident near the Red Deer River Valley, close to the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch – approximately 80 miles from Calgary, Alberta. Their excursion took a horrifying turn as their inReach GPS device alerted authorities – a silent call for help sent on September 29. This alarm triggered action from Parks Canada as they sent the Wildlife Human Attack Response Team into the field. But the rescue helicopter was grounded due to bad weather and help arrived hours later.

As the clock struck 1 a.m., the Response Team arrived at the scene. They were confronted with a horrendous sight – the lifeless bodies of the two hikers and their dog, casualties of a deadly wildlife attack. As they tried to piece together the event’s details, the presence of an aggressive grizzly bear quickly became known. Faced with concerns for public safety, the decision was made to euthanize the bear. The victims were later transported to Sundre, Alberta.

The couple, known for their love of nature, was familiar with bear safety protocols, which they dutifully followed. A relative of Inglis who had been in touch with him has reported that they emptied a can of bear spray but it didn’t work to repel the bear.

Kim Titchener, a representative of Bear Safety & More, conjectured that the bear may have reacted defensively if the couple surprised it. She pointed out that grizzly attacks are more commonly defensive, not predatory.

Titchener raised the possibility that the couple had been active around dusk, a time when bears are most active. But this theory was met with a counter-argument from a family member, stating the couple’s GPS alert was emitted at 5 p.m., signifying they had settled down for the evening. They were not traveling after sundown or setting camp as initially hypothesized. This new information brings up more questions about how the fatal encounter unfolded in the resting couple’s presence in broad daylight.