Within the serene surroundings of Banff National Park in Canada, a distressing situation unfolded September 30. A couple, Doug Inglis and Jenny Gusse, along with their loyal dog, were found lifeless, victims of what is believed to have been a grizzly bear attack. Parks Canada unveiled specifics of this horrific event through their Facebook page, signaling the dangers that come with visiting areas inhabited by untamed wildlife.
The incident, which occurred around 80 miles from Calgary, Alberta, near the Red Deer River Valley close to Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, involved a couple profoundly passionate about outdoor adventures. Their adventure morphed into a nightmare, with an alarmed inReach GPS device on September 29 signaling the onset of a crisis, saying “Bear attack bad”. This alarm called the Wildlife Human Attack Response Team from Parks Canada into immediate action.
The team arrived on the scene around 1 a.m., after delays due to bad weather, where they found the couple, both 62, and their dog, victims to a fatal wildlife attack. Concurrently, the team stumbled upon a hostile grizzly bear, which had to be euthanized to ensure public safety. Authorities moved the victims to Sundre, Alberta.
Although known to be cautious nature explorers with keen awareness of bear safety protocols, the details surrounding this devastating event remain undetermined. Kim Titchener of the Alberta-based Bear Safety & More offered a theory. She suggested the attackers – grizzlies – are often defensive rather than predatory. The couple may have startled it while active during dusk when the bears also tend to be.
However, statements from a family member who had been communicating with the couple counter this speculation, indicating a 5 p.m. GPS alert suggested the couple settled for the night in their tent, contradicting the notion of late traveling or camp setup.
