( CNN ) -- A bear attacked and killed a worker at an oil sands plant in western Canada Wednesday , authorities said . The attack took place at a Suncor Energy base plant , 200 miles north of Edmonton . The female employee was killed by a mature male black bear in the North Steepbank Mine , described as a `` remote part of the main plant , '' CNN network partner CTV reported . `` We are shocked by this very unusual incident and there are no words to express the tragedy of this situation , '' said Mark Little , a Suncor executive vice president . `` All of us need to focus on personal safety and I would urge everyone to be extremely vigilant in dealing with wildlife . '' The company said the woman 's name wo n't be released without the consent of the family . Suncor said is cooperating with `` appropriate authorities and will complete a full investigation '' into the incident . Between 1900 and 2009 , 63 people were killed in 59 black bear attacks in Canada and the United States , according to a 2011 Journal of Wildlife Management report . The study concludes that as human populations and developments rise , so have bear attacks . The bear in the Wednesday attack was put down . Barrie Harrison with Alberta Occupational Health and Safety told CBC News that officials are now looking into whether the employee was alone when the attack occurred . `` I do know that , certainly from an Occupational Health and Safety perspective , this is the first that I 'm aware of having a worker either seriously injured or killed by a bear of any variety , '' Harrison said . Bear drags woman from garage . In December : Bear suspected in attack captured , killed . 12-year-old bear attack survivor : ' I just thought I was going to die ' Alaska hunter mauled by bear survives 36 hours in wilderness .
59 people were killed in 63 black bear attacks December . The latest attack took place 200 miles north of Alaska . The bear in the attack was put down .