Conservation officers in British Columbia have ceased active efforts to capture the grizzly bear linked to last month’s “extraordinary attack” on a group of schoolchildren and teachers in Bella Coola. The incident, which occurred on November 20, resulted in severe injuries to four individuals, including three students and a staff member, as they had lunch during a field trip.
On Friday, the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service released a statement indicating that DNA and forensic evidence had excluded the four bears captured earlier in the week from being involved in the attack. Furthermore, there have been no bear sightings in the vicinity of the incident for five consecutive days.
The statement continued, “Based on this factor and due to the time of year when bears begin denning, officers are no longer actively trying to capture bears, and equipment has been removed.” The conservation service will collaborate with the Nuxalk Nation to develop strategies for safely coexisting with bears, and a full-time conservation officer has been assigned to the Bella Coola area, located approximately 700 kilometers northwest of Vancouver.
A total of 24 conservation officers participated in the search for the bear over two weeks, including officers who traveled overnight to deliver animal samples for testing to a forensics lab at the University of Alberta. Insp. Kevin Van Damme of the conservation service described the bear's behavior as “aggressive and unlike any other documented grizzly bear attack we have seen in B.C., or Canada.”
In response to the attack, eight bears were captured in total, with the latest four—an adult female and three cubs—set to be released far from Bella Coola, similar to the initial four that were captured. Chief Samuel Schooner characterized the attack as a moment of “life and death” and commended the bravery of teachers who intervened to fend off the bear.
Veronica Schooner, the mother of a 10-year-old boy named Alvarez, who narrowly escaped the attack, described how he was so close to the animal that he could feel its fur. She remarked, “He was running for his life,” noting that one male teacher bore the brunt of the attack.
In the aftermath, more than $100,000 was raised to assist the families affected by the attack with medical and related expenses. Initially, conservation officers believed they were searching for a sow and her two cubs, employing drones equipped with thermal cameras in their search efforts.
On Thursday, an information session regarding the incident was held and attended by over 100 residents, as stated by Van Damme. He expressed appreciation for the community's engagement, stating, “We welcomed the opportunity to further connect with residents, outline the steps we have taken, and try to answer any questions.”
The conservation service reiterated its commitment to the community and pledged to continue supporting the Nuxalk Nation while monitoring and responding to any concerning bear activity moving forward. Authorities emphasized the importance of community safety and wildlife management in the wake of this extraordinary event.
