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A trapper in Canada’s Yukon Territory shot and killed a grizzly bear on his way back from his trapline Monday afternoon — only to find his wife and 10-month-old child dead from an apparent bear attack outside their cabin.

The Yukon Coroner’s Service released details about the shocking incident Tuesday.

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According to a news release, RCMP in Mayo, near the Northwest Territories border, received a call at about 3:45 p.m. from a man who had been trapping in the Einarson Lake area.

The trapper, Gjermund Roesholt, had been on his way back from his trapline when he was charged by a grizzly bear about 100 metres from his family’s cabin.

He shot and killed the bear.

When he got back to the cabin, he found the bodies of his wife and child just outside.

Coroners officials said the two appeared to be out for a walk when they were killed sometime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday.

In a tweet, Yukon RCMP called the incident a “suspected bear attack.”

The coroner’s service identified the victims as 37-year-old Valérie Théorét and 10-month-old Adele Roesholt. The three had lived in the Einarson Lake area for around three months.

Mayo RCMP, the RCMP’s forensic section and Yukon Government’s Department of the Environment are involved in the coroner’s investigation.

“Yukon Coroner Services extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ms. Théorét and her child Adele,” the news release reads.

— with files from Canadian Press

jwakefield@postmedia.com

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