Bear that killed Alberta hunter Rick Cross will not be destroyed

Alberta Parks says a bear that killed a hunter in Kananaskis Country last week will not be destroyed.

Rick Cross was mauled when he accidentally gotbetween a mother bear with a fresh kill and her cub.

• Rick Cross, missing Kananaskis hunter, killed in bear attack

Officials suggested on Monday it was a defensive attack.

RichardStarke, the minister for Alberta's parks,tweeted thatleaving the mother bear and her cub in their habitat is a good decision.

A bear closure remains in effect for the PicklejarCreek, Mist Creek and MistRidge areas.

Kim TitchenerwithWildSmart, a conservation group that tries to reduce negative interactions between humans and wildlife,says bears are trying to consume as much food as possible in preparation for winter.

She says there are some steps to take in the event of a bear attack.

"If a defensive bear charges youspray it with bear spray," said Titchener. "If you don't have bear spray drop to the ground and play dead, cover you head, stay on your stomach [and] do not make noise.If the bear rolls you over, roll back on your stomach."

More bear safety information is available on theWildSmart website.