Bear encounter in southwest Alberta sends one to hospital

A grizzly bear is seen fishing along a river in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola, B.C. on Sept 10, 2010. : A pair of Americans on a canoe trip in the Northwest Territories had to be rescued this week from an aggressive grizzly bear. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

BLAIRMORE — One person is in hospital after an encounter with a bear in the southwestern part of Alberta on Monday.

RCMP in Blairmore, about 140 kilometres west of Lethbridge, received a call about a hunter who had been attacked.

The hunter had been grouse hunting with another person when they came across what is said to have been a grizzly bear sow and cubs.

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The sow bear made contact with one of the hunters and injured him, while the other hunter was able to shoot the bear, causing it to run off.

RCMP say the man is in hospital and is in stable condition.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife are now conducting a thorough search for the bear, with the area now closed off as they investigate.