A pair of hikers and their dog have been mauled to death by a grizzly bear as rescuers were unable to reach them due to bad weather.
The couple sent out a distress signal in Canada’s Banff National Park.
Park rangers were contacted about the attack via a GPS device.
The specialist team were unable to reach the couple in time as bad weather grounded the rescue helicopter.
The Continental Divide between Banff National Park in Alberta and Kootenay National Park in British Columbia
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Parks Canada spokesperson Natalie Fay revealed the rescue team responded immediately but were forced to travel on foot.
Rescuers would eventually arrive at 1am on Saturday.
Their arrival came several hours after the attack took place.
Members of the rescue team found the bodies of both the couple and their dog.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:A family member of the deceased told CBC that the couple, who have not been named, “were long-term partners who loved the outdoors and were inseparable”.
They added: “They lived for being in the backcountry and were two of the most cautious people I know.
“They knew bear protocol and followed it to a tee.”
Despite the fatal incident on Saturday, bear attacks in North America remain particularly rare.
A stock image of a grizzly bear
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Wildlife expert Kim Titchener revealed only 14 per cent of attacks result in fatalities.
She added: “Often when people have encounters with grizzlies, usually the grizzly goes one direction and the people go in the other.
“So we rarely do see cases where we actually have everyone involved killed.
“They could have surprised a bear at close range and had an encounter that led to a defensive attack.”
