I feel for the family. Black Bears attack in MB quite often..... always spring and fall never summer. If you were to wake up after sleeping almost the hole winter and couldn't find food right away, well when you did you would protect it,as well as sows w/cubs.In the fall they are getting ready for sleeping.....packing on the pounds. This is the most dangerous time of year especially when there is limited food. Last year in MB was the worst year in many for wild berries so bear attacks went up, first incident involved an elderly man out picking wild plum', he didn't make it. The second incident involved a man that was protecting his dog....... small dog on a teather rope tied to the house=bait...... he fought the bear off and both lived. My brother in-law was also chased from the stocked trout ponds by a black bear, lucky he was on a quad,there were several more and is every year here.Another generalization that is made about Black Bears that attack...... most are juvenile and are just learning to fend for themselves, so when they do find food that they like they protect it. Any bear that doesn't run at the site of man..... be weary!
The only wild bear that is safe to approach is a dead one. Just look at the 'Grizzley Man'