A woman who lives in Port Moody, just east of Vancouver, is recovering at home after being bitten in the thigh on the weekend by a black bear that was in her yard.

Police say the bear attacked Jan Lanz, 57, late Saturday night as she let out her dog.

Jan Lanz, 57, was bitten on her thigh after she came between a mother bear that had been eating garbage in her garage and two cubs in nearby bushes.
(CBC)

The mother bear was in the Lanz's garage eating garbage while her two cubs were in nearby bushes. The dog ran over to the bushes, where it was confronted by the cubs.

Lanz went to help her dog and came between the cubs and their mother. That's when the mother bear attacked, says acting Sgt. Phil Reid of the Port Moody police.

"The bear then grabbed the victim by the thigh, bit her on the thigh. She states that she hit the bear over the head, and subsequently it let go for whatever reason.

"And she went over to get her dog that was in an altercation with the two cubs, and she grabbed her dog by the tail and pulled it away."

Reid said Lanz's screams attracted the attention of neighbours, who came running to her assistance as the three bears fled.

Lanz was treated at Eagleridge hospital and released.

Police and conservation officials said the attack serves as reminder to people living near wilderness areas to keep their garbage in secure containers.
 
A bear trap was set up in the area after the attack, but there has been no sign of the animal.