Black bear killed in self defence after attack on dog-walker in Maple Ridge

A black bear has died following a brawl with a man on a trail in Maple Ridge.

A black bear has died following a brawl with a man on a trail in Maple Ridge.

Around 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, a man was walking his dog off-leash on a trail near 240th Street when a black bear appeared and engaged the dog, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said in a statement issued Saturday morning.

The man was able to secure his dog and attempted to leave, but the bear attacked again.

“The man was injured as he fought with the bear,” said the statement.

The organization did not clarify exactly how the bear was killed, only that a group of anglers assisted the man and the bear died.

The dog owner, who received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, will not be punished for the killing as he had been acting out in self-defence, the statement said.

“A COS investigation, which included a sweep of the area, examination of physical evidence and interviewing the victim, determined the bear was killed in self-defence,” it said.