UPDATE: No evidence of cubs after black bear killed in Whistler, BCCOS says

(UPDATE: May 8 @ 10:55 am) - Conservation officers spent six days searching for any sign of cubs after killing a black bear in Whistler late last month.

The bear was terminated by the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) on April 28 after it attacked a woman who was walking her dog earlier that day.

An examination of the bear carcass determined it was a sow that showed evidence of lactation, the BCCOS explained.

"Conservation officers stayed on site for several hours following the April 28 attack, but no cubs were observed or reported in the area," the agency noted.

"The BCCOS received some reports (of cubs) the day following the attack but have not received any new reports since that time.

A live trap and trail cameras were placed in the vicinity, and conservation officers spent several days searching the area for any signs of cubs.

Those efforts were unsuccessful and traps were removed on May 4 following six days of trapping efforts, "due to the length of time and presence of other bears in the area."

The BCCOS says the search effort has now concluded.

(Original story: April 29 @ 11:40 am) - A woman was hospitalized after being attacked by a bear while walking her dog in Whistler on Monday night.

According to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS), she was walking her dog on a leash in the Kadenwood neighbourhood around 8:30 pm.

Her walk was then interrupted by the black bear, the BCCOS explained, and the woman was “knocked to the ground and bitten” by the animal.

Police, firefighters, paramedics and conservation officers all responded to the incident.

“Conservation officers conducted a sweep of the attack site and located a black bear nearby, which matched witness descriptions of the offending animal,” the BCCOS noted.

“The bear was dispatched due to public safety concerns.”

While the bear was killed, the BCCOS says the woman’s injuries are non-life-threatening.

The BCCOS thanked law enforcement and other emergency responders for their assistance during this incident.