[REVISION HISTORY]

Bear sightings and encounters in Pacific Northwest

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-17 21:13 UTC → 2026-09-25 10:01 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Increased bear activity has led to various wildlife encounters and safety warnings across British Columbia and Washington state. In British Columbia, black bears have caused disruptions at golf courses in Pitt Meadows and Whistler. At the Golden Eagle Golf Club, a bear was filmed dragging away a bag of clubs, while in Whistler, a bear entered a golf cart to seize a bag containing food and wallets. Wildlife experts noted that bears are frequently drawn to these areas by food, warning that “human food habituation is a primary reason bears are often euthanized in the province.” Following these incidents, wildlife officials in the Pacific Northwest issued broader safety advisories. In Whatcom County, Washington, authorities increased patrols after a hiker encountered a black bear near Lake Whatcom, marking the 32nd sighting in the county for 2026. Recent reports from the Shuswap region highlight escalating risks; a man sustained non-life-threatening injuries during a grizzly bear attack near Sicamous while hiking with an off-leash dog. On a Friday evening near Whistler, a woman was airlifted to a hospital following a bear attack near Conflict Lake; responding agencies euthanized an adult male black bear at the site. ~~On a Sunday evening near~~ In Bellingham, Washington, a ~~man and a child were injured~~ Sunday evening attack in a ~~black bear attack on~~ backyard orchard left a ~~property. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has since increased patrols~~ 12-year-old boy and ~~set traps~~ his father, Noah Westgate, injured. The bear, reportedly protecting a cub, attacked the boy twice, causing hip injuries. The boy attempted to ~~locate~~ defend himself by thrusting his thumb into the ~~animal.~~ bear’s eye, while his father sustained bite wounds to his hand while intervening. Wildlife authorities have deployed a trap in the area as the bear remains at large. As bears prepare for winter hibernation, ~~they require approximately 20,000 calories daily, a need that may be exacerbated by summer wildfires destroying natural food sources. Officials~~ officials urge residents to secure attractants like trash, pet food, and bird feeders.

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