Bear won't be put down in Alberta grizzly attack

The actions of a grizzly bear that attacked a couple in the Waiparous area northwest of Calgary on Tuesdayare being considered defensive and the bear will not be killed, according to an investigation into the incident.

James Hayworth and his wife, Laura, were enjoying a beautiful day by the Ghost River when a mother grizzly charged out of the woods and attacked them.

"The cubs stumbled upon the man and the woman, and the sow then reacted to protect her cubs," said Brendan Cox with Alberta Justice, which oversees the Fish and Wildlife department.

"So the bears will be left alone. They're going to be given the space they need to move on."

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"I thought for sure I'm going to die. I'm dead," Hayworth told CBC News on Tuesday.

James was left with scrapes, cuts and bruises while Laura suffered a broken arm and multiple puncture wounds and was transported to a hospital in Calgary. She wasreleased onWednesday.

The area of the attack from Bar C Ranch west alongthe TransAlta roadto Banff National Parkwill remain closed until further notice.

Cox saidFish and Wildlife officers will be monitoring the situation closely.

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