Conservation officers in British Columbia are actively searching for three grizzly bears following an attack on an elementary school group in Bella Coola last Thursday. The incident has highlighted the increasing number of bear encounters in the remote Central Coast community over the years.
During a press briefing on Sunday, Sgt. Jeff Tyre of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service mentioned that trail cameras have been set up, and the search area has been narrowed down to a few kilometers around the 4 Mile subdivision where the attack occurred. It is believed that the bears might return to that location. Only one bear has been sighted in the past day, and it was far from the scene of the incident.
The attack took place when a bear approached a group of approximately 20 individuals, including teachers and students in Grades 4 and 5, who were on a field trip and having lunch in Bella Coola, situated about 420 kilometers northwest of Vancouver. As a result, three students and a teacher were hospitalized.
Authorities have indicated that a mother bear with two cubs is likely responsible for the attack. Residents of Bella Coola, a small unincorporated community surrounded by mountains and rainforest, have observed an increase in human-bear interactions in recent years. Nuxalk Nation hereditary chief Noel Pootlass mentioned that a new population of grizzlies migrated to the valley around 2018 due to environmental factors.
The community has faced numerous incidents involving bears entering homes and causing concern among residents. Local resident Maryanne Gurr shared her experience of encountering bears on her property, emphasizing the need for a solution to ensure safety for both humans and wildlife. The incident has reignited discussions about the ban on grizzly bear hunting in the province, with conservation officers focusing on identifying the bears involved in the recent attack.
Efforts are underway to safely trap the bears, gather DNA samples, and collaborate with wildlife experts to determine their involvement in the incident. Authorities have advised residents to refrain from venturing into the 4 Mile subdivision and to follow safety precautions. The fate of the bears once captured has not been decided yet.