Woman fatally mauled by bear in northern Alberta

Edmonton -

Mounties say a female tree planter was mauled to death by a bear in northern Alberta. 

RCMP told CTV News they received a call just after 3 p.m. on July 31 regarding an attack in a rural area northwest of Swan Hills.

The 26-year-old woman was planting trees in the remote spot when she was attacked by what witnesses described to police as a black bear.

Mounties say a co-worker scared the bear off before calling for help.

The woman was taken by helicopter from the site to the Swan Hills airport but was pronounced dead soon after landing, according to police. 

Investigators with Alberta Fish and Wildlife are also looking into the incident.

A statement by Alberta's Justice and Solicitor General office says Fish and Wildlife officers set up a trail camera and traps in the area and took samples from the victim's clothing for analysis to create a DNA profile of the bear.

Three black bears near the site of the attack were located by officers, who were awaiting DNA results to confirm if one of the animals was responsible for the attack.

According to Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, an RCMP spokesperson, the woman was from Peers, Alta., but the family did not want her name released.

With files from The Canadian Press