Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (June 17/05) - A Hay River man has been killed by a black bear, 300 km northeast of Fort Smith.

The RCMP has identified the victim as Merlyn Carter, 71. According to police, Carter was outside his cabin when he was attacked by the bear.

The attack is believed to have occurred late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning.

The bear, estimated to be a two-year-old male, was shot and killed by Carter's son following the attack.

Merlyn Carter was well-known in Hay River and elsewhere in the North as co-owner and chief pilot of Carter Air Services. Carter first came to Hay River in 1952.

He and his wife Jean were recently honoured with life memberships to the Northern Air Transportation Association.