Deb and Jay MacDonald were found dead at McTavish Lake in Canada
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NEED TO KNOW
- Deb and Jay MacDonald, a retired couple from Regina, Canada, died in a suspected bear attack at McTavish Lake
- The bear involved in the incident was euthanized and is undergoing a necropsy to determine more details
- Authorities are urging caution around wildlife amid their ongoing investigation
A retired couple was killed in a suspected bear attack while fishing in Canada.
On Wednesday, July 15, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to a call about a “wildlife incident” at McTavish Lake in Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Community Safety (MCS) said in a news release. Two people were found dead in the area.
Two days later, the MCS confirmed that a bear had attacked the victims and the animal had been euthanized. “The bear is being transported to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, where a necropsy will be conducted,” said the MCS.
A family member identified the victims as Deb and Jay MacDonald, a retired couple from Regina, according to CBC News.
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The couple, who were in their early 70s, went to McTavish Lake to stay at their cabin and to enjoy a fishing trip, Deb’s brother, Donjames LeBlanc, told the outlet.
“They were going to go up and do a little fishing and so on,” said LeBlanc, per CBC News. “They didn’t respond to calls that we forwarded to them, so [the family] contacted the police. They found Jay lying by the lakeshore dead. And they couldn’t find Debbie so they put off the search for that day.”
According to LeBlanc, his sister’s body was found the next day in the woods near the cabin. “I don’t know what happened exactly,” he said, adding that Deb and Jay previously mentioned numerous black bears in the area.
Deb was a nurse and Jay worked in the farm equipment industry, per CBC News. Mass was held for the couple at Christ the King Church in Regina on Thursday, July 16.
Their deaths were initially treated as suspicious, but they are no longer.
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The wildlife incident remains under investigation.
“The RCMP was involved in the initial investigation, but as this death is not considered suspicious in nature, the investigation will now be managed by the Saskatchewan Conservation Officer Service and Coroner’s Service,” said the MCS. “The ministry thanks the RCMP for their support in this investigation.”
“The MCS extends sincere condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic incident,” the organization added.
The MCS advises residents, cabin owners and visitors to be cautious of wildlife activity in the area.
PEOPLE has reached out to the RCMP and MCS for comment.
