Woman dead after bear attack north of Buffalo Narrows

A 44-year-old woman has died after being attacked by a bear while camping in northern Saskatchewan.

According to an RCMP release, at about 7:15 p.m. Thursday, it was reported that a man, a woman and two children under the age of 10 — all from Saskatchewan — were camping when a black bear attacked the woman.

The man and the children weren’t injured.

The woman had significant injuries and was being airlifted out of the area by medical personnel when she was pronounced dead.

The area where the attack took place is very remote — near McKie Lake, about 150 kilometres north-northeast of Buffalo Narrows.

The Buffalo Narrows RCMP did an initial investigation and, as the woman’s death is not considered suspicious, the investigation is now in the hands of the coroner. In addition, the Ministry of Environment will be conducting its own investigation into the incident due to the involvement of wildlife.

The release said initial reports were that the bear was destroyed at the scene and there wasn’t any ongoing public safety risk.

Ministry of Environment conservation officers were investigating the circumstances around the attack. The bear’s carcass will be sent away to undergo a necropsy.

This is the first fatal bear attack in Saskatchewan since 1983.