Mission man nurses scratches after bear lunges, swipes, in rare encounter

MISSION, B.C. – An evening stroll through a busy Mission, B.C., neighbourhood turned into a frightening encounter more likely to occur on a remote, backwoods trail.

Mission resident Elias Hart says he was walking on a path through the Fraser Valley community, near a greenbelt, but also not far from several busy streets, when a black bear lunged at him.

The incident happened at about 8 o’clock Thursday night and Hart says the bear knocked him to the ground and then continued to challenge him as he tried to get away.

Cars on a nearby road eventually deterred the bruin and Hart escaped with only a grazed leg.

Conservation officers are now looking for the animal.

Officer Cody Ambrose says the incident is very rare and Hart was lucky to escape with a few scratches. (CKNW, News1130)