Conservation Officers Ramp Up Search Following Grizzly Mauling
A dangerous grizzly bear remains on the loose near Bella Coola, British Columbia, after it charged a group of approximately 20 elementary students and teachers during a field trip on Thursday, November 20. The attack resulted in three children and one adult sustaining serious injuries and being transported to Metro Vancouver hospitals for emergency care.
Dangerous Situation Unfolds on School Field Trip
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday near the Bella Coola River. Students from Grades 4 and 5 at Acwsalcta School, an independent Nuxalk First Nations school, were on a land-based learning outing. The group had stopped for lunch on a forested trail directly across the highway from their school when the bear attacked.
While seven individuals received first aid at the scene and did not require hospitalization, the four most seriously injured victims were rushed for advanced medical treatment via ambulance and air transport. Out of respect for the families' privacy, no further details about their conditions have been officially released.
Intensified Hunt and Community Warnings
As of Saturday, additional conservation officers have been deployed to assist in the search. Insp. Kevin Van Damme of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service has issued a stark warning to the public. "I really need to stress how dangerous this situation is with this bear at large," Van Damme stated.
Authorities have set up several traps and cameras in the area as part of an ongoing investigation that includes site assessment, evidence collection, and interviews with witnesses and victims. Based on these accounts, two other grizzly bears were spotted in the vicinity during the attack, complicating the situation.
Residents in the 4 Mile subdivision area have been urged to stay indoors, avoid the zone entirely, and only travel by vehicle until further notice. "We can appreciate people want to be involved but this is a fluid and dangerous situation," Van Damme emphasized, asking the public to give officers space to work safely.
Community Impact and Aftermath
The attack has deeply affected the close-knit Nuxalk community. Noel Pootlass, the head Nuxalk hereditary chief, confirmed that all the students and Indigenous teachers involved are his relatives. He identified one of the victims as a cousin, a teaching assistant who "took the main onslaught" of the injuries, which included severe head trauma.
On social media, a woman claiming to be a grandmother of one of the injured children shared that her granddaughter required 100 stitches, suffered three broken bones, and underwent emergency surgery following the traumatic event.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service continues its intensive efforts to locate and capture the bear responsible for this harrowing attack, reminding everyone that public safety remains the paramount concern.
