Bear attack blamed for woman's death in British Columbia

INVERMERE, B.C. — A mountain biker was found dead in southeastern British Columbia, apparently after being attacked by a black bear, and in a separate incident a grizzly protecting her cubs charged two bicyclists, authorities said.

The 34-year-old woman was reported missing Saturday night and was found dead Sunday on a trail near the Panorama Ski Resort near the Alberta boundary, Paul Visentin, a British Columbia conservation officer, told Global TV.

A bear was "right where the body was recovered, as though it was guarding the site, which would indicate to me that the bear had preyed upon this person or obviously was trying to claim ownership," Visentin said.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police shot the bear.

To the east, in Banff National Park, two bicyclists escaped with minor injuries after being charged by a grizzly protecting her cubs Sunday on the trail near Lake Minnewanka. The trail was later closed.

The riders saw the cubs but were unable to react before the mother bear was after them, park officials said. The bear didn't make contact but the cyclists were scraped and scratched from falling off their bicycles, officials said.