Bear attack in Canadian national park leaves two hikers injured

Several sections of a Canadian national park are closed after two hikers were attacked by a bear on Tuesday afternoon.

The hikers, whose identities have not yet been confirmed, were in Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. The pair were hiking from the park’s Crandell Lake to Ruby Ridge, a colorful rock formation in the park. Several hiking trails of varying lengths connect the two locations, which are about two miles apart. According to a statement park officials shared with CBS News, the pair encountered the bear around 2 p.m. local time.

The bear attacked the hikers. Both were injured, but the hikers were able to use bear spray. The bear then “disengaged,” park officials said, and the couple left the area.

The couple was able to leave the scene of the attack on foot and were taken to a nearby hospital. Both were in stable condition.

Park officials said they are searching for the bear but have not yet found it. It is not known what type of bear it was or what may have prompted it to attack the hikers. According to the park’s website, both black bears and grizzly bears live in the area, with black bears being more common.

The incident is still under investigation, officials said.

Any bear sightings should be reported to park staff, according to a press release published online.

Meanwhile, park officials have closed all sections of the Crandell Lake trail and the surrounding campground. Other trails in the park have been closed, as have several campgrounds and remote areas, including the Ruby Ridge area where the attack occurred. The park is located on the province’s border with Montana, along the U.S. Glacier National Park.