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Rick Cross was killed in a bear attack in Kananaskis west of Calgary over the weekend. (Submitted by Cross family)
RCMP say a hunter who went missing in Kananaskis on Saturday was killed when he accidentally got between a mother bear and her cub.

Rick Cross died of severe trauma from a bear attack and his body was found near his backpack. RCMP have also recovered his rifle.

RCMP say it looks like he wandered into the area where the mother and cub were feeding on a dead deer.

Although Cross was mauled, the bears left after the incident so officials believe it was a defensive attack. Conservation officers are now trying to determine what to do about the animals.

The Picklejar day use area remains closed.

A bear closure has been issued for all areas south of the Mist Ridge trail between the Mist Ridge trail and Lantern Creek north of Highway 40. The closure does not include Mist Creek trail or Mist Ridge trail.