Woman airlifted to hospital after cougar attack in B.C.'s Fraser Valley

Awoman is in stable conditionafter a cougar attackin B.C.'s Fraser Valley, says the province's conservationservice.

The woman was in her yard early Tuesday morning on a rural property in the Harrison Mills area, west of Agassiz, when she was attacked by a cougar, said the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS).

The service saida man helped chase the cougar off the woman.

A person phoned 911 to report the attack just before 8:15 a.m. PT, saidB.C. Emergency Health Services.

Dispatchers sent one air ambulanceand three ground ambulances to the scene.

"The patient was cared for by paramedics and then transported in serious condition by helicopter to a trauma hospital," read an email from the service.

Cougar attacks rare

In an update Tuesdayafternoon, the service said the woman remains in hospital. The servicedid not release her age but said she's an adult.

BCCOS said thecougar has yet to be found. The service's predator attack teamsecured the attack site and were still on thescene later Tuesday.

The team is trying to figure out the circumstances of the attack and are examining evidence at the scene, the service said. Officers are also trying to track and identify the cougar involved.

BCCOS is asking the public to avoid the Weaver Creek Road area for now.

Cougars, also referred to asmountain lions, liveacross the southern third of B.C. Encounters with humans arerare, let alone attacks.Children under the age of 16 are most vulnerable.

The province has recorded an average of two to three non-fatal cougar attacks each year since 2010, according to data from B.C.'s environment ministry.

There hasn't been a fatal attack in more than 20 years.