Bear kills off-leash dog

Photo: The Canadian Press

File photo of a black bear.

A woman's dog was killed by a black bear along a well-used North Vancouver trail on Friday.

The owner was walking in Lynn Headwaters region park alone with her dachshund, which was off leash, when the bear appeared several feet away, according to conservation officer Clayton Debruin.

"The black bear briefly chased her dachshund dog around a tree, and subsequently killed the dog," Debruin told CTV.

“The dog owner managed to find another hiker with a whistle, and they used the whistle to scare the bear away from the dog, giving enough time for the people to recover the dog… to the parkade.

"If you come across a stray wild animal such as bear, a cougar or a coyote... Assert yourself, making yourself as big as possible. Shout at it. And always make sure that animal has a clear escape route."

Metro Vancouver spokesperson Sarah Lusk called an attack like this rare, but said it's a reminder for hikers to be prepared for encounters with wildlife in urban parks.

- with files from CTV Vancouver