A husband and wife's leisurely bike ride along a Canadian trail took a terrifying turn over the weekend when they spooked two grizzly bears, causing them to attack.

Local authorities said quick thinking by the woman likely saved both their lives as she used bear spray to drive the animals away.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, while the couple was riding e-bikes near the Kootenay River. According to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (COS), the bears attacked after being surprised.

The woman told authorities she heard her husband yell before seeing a bear charge toward her. As she reached for her bear spray, she noticed another grizzly attacking her husband. She deployed the spray again, successfully driving both bears away. 

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Officials said the man suffered serious injuries and was transported by emergency responders to a hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to recover.

"The couple was well-prepared," said COS Inspector Dave Webster in a Facebook post. "They had bear spray, kept it accessible, and knew how to use it. Their actions were commendable, and we urge anyone in bear country to take similar precautions."

Following the attack, officers interviewed the victims, inspected the scene and consulted a carnivore expert, who concluded that the bears were likely acting defensively. 

POLICE OFFICIALS HOST 'BEAR DRILLS’ FOLLOWING STRING OF BEAR ATTACKS

In a statement released two days after the encounter, the COS confirmed that the bears' behavior appeared to be a defensive response and that the couple had likely caught the animals off guard in a dense section of the trail. 

There were no indications that the bears had been tracking or hunting the pair, and no recent signs of bear aggression had been reported in the area.

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Officers searched the area that day but found no sign of the bears. Authorities closed three main trails and set traps, though no animals were captured. A follow-up search the next day also resulted in no sightings.

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Because the bears appeared to be acting in self-defense, wildlife officials decided not to pursue or relocate them.

Officials emphasized that bear spray is a proven, effective deterrent against bear attacks.

"Like a seat belt, it should be considered essential safety equipment when traveling in wildlife country," the organization shared in a resource guide on their website.

New York City's Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, dodged responsibility for his past call to defund the police in the wake of a mass shooting in Manhattan that left four people dead, including a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer. 

The 33-year-old Democratic socialist returned to New York City on Wednesday from his wedding celebration in Uganda and immediately visited the home of the fallen NYPD officer, Didarul Islam, and then held a press conference with Islam's brother at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) headquarters in Manhattan.

Mamdani was peppered with questions from reporters about his past policy stances, including his 2020 call to defund the police and his recent pledge to disband the NYPD Strategic Response Group (SRG), which responds to riots, civil disorder and mass shootings, such as the incident in Manhattan on Monday evening. 

"My statements in 2020 were ones made amidst a frustration that many New Yorkers held at the murder of George Floyd," Mamdani responded when a reporter asked if he regretted any of his prior comments. 

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Mamdani has since walked back his stance on defunding police, but his competitors, including former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has seized on such comments, telling CNN that Mamdani doesn’t understand the "importance of NYPD."

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"I know that Governor Cuomo is far more comfortable in the past, whether it be his own or whether it be in attacking me for tweets made before I was even an assembly member," Mamdani said on Wednesday. "What I have said, time and time again, is the campaign that I am leading, the campaign that I am asking New Yorkers to consider is one that has been clear on its public safety approach:

In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Cuomo told Fox News Digital that his comments are "not publicizing the tragedy" and arguing that it's a "political discussion that we have to have in this campaign."

Mamdani said he plans to address police department staffing shortages as mayor. 

"What I am speaking of is a vision that will not only address public safety, but also keep officers in this very police department will ensure that they can actually respond to the crimes that are being committed in this city," Mamdani said. 

The socialist candidate criticized the former governor for "spending an entire day speaking almost exclusively about me, and barely about the New Yorkers who have been killed," calling it "indicative of the very politics New Yorkers want to leave in the past."

And when a reporter asked Mamdani if he bears any responsibility for some of his past comments about the NYPD, including a post quipping, "nature is healing," in response to someone celebrating a cop crying in his car in 2020, Mamdani again dodged accountability, touting his newfound experience connecting with NYPD officers about their experiences. 

"It is clear to me, as it is clear to so many New Yorkers, of the immense risk that, so many take upon when they do this work," Mamdani said, "What I will be as the mayor is someone who recognizes the work that these officers do, who looks to ensure work that brought them to this department and always focused on the outcome of public safety."

Mamdani again criticized Cuomo for "trying to score" political points for criticizing his past comments. 

"We spend far more of our time trying to score these kinds of points than asking ourselves, how can we ensure that New Yorkers are safe?" Mamdani said. 

The Democratic socialist has secured endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders while national Democratic leaders from New York, including House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer. 

On Wednesday, Mamdani said he echoes Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., who is also withholding her endorsement, for a national ban on assault rifles. 

"I ask that in this moment, we come together as New Yorkers, and we remember the four of our neighbors that were killed. We honor their memories, and we live up to the way in which they lead their lives," Mamdani said.