The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has confirmed that a grizzly sow and her two cubs were “likely” responsible for the severe attack on a school group in Bella Coola, B.C., earlier this week.
Details of the Incident
The attack occurred on Thursday afternoon near the 4 Mile subdivision. According to BCCOS Insp. Kevin Van Damme, the school group had stopped along a trail near the community to have lunch when the encounter took place.
Casualties and Response:
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Injuries: Emergency officials report that two people remain in critical condition, while two others sustained serious injuries.
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Heroic Actions: Officials have praised the teachers involved, describing them as “heroes” for their actions in protecting the elementary students during the attack.
Ongoing Search and Investigation
BCCOS Sgt. Jeff Tyre provided an update during a news conference on Saturday. While officers have established that a sow and two cubs are the likely aggressors based on witness accounts, no bears have been captured yet.
Current Operations
The search effort is extensive and involves multiple resources:
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Ground Teams: Eight field conservation officers and a First Nations liaison officer are currently on site.
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Traps: Traps and snare sets have been deployed throughout the 4 Mile subdivision area.
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Aerial Support: An RCMP helicopter is utilizing thermal imaging technology to assist in locating the animals.
Identification Protocol
Sgt. Tyre noted that there is a high population of bears in the area. The primary goal is to safely trap the animals and work with wildlife veterinarians to collect DNA. This will help confirm if the captured bears are the ones responsible for the attack.
“Any bears that were not part of the incident will be relocated,” Tyre stated.
Regarding the fate of the bears involved in the attack, Tyre said no decisions have been made yet: “We will work with the veterinarians to determine the outcome once we identify which bears we have captured.”
Urgent Public Safety Warning
Residents are being strictly advised to avoid the 4 Mile subdivision and to stay indoors. Officials have emphasized that the public must not attempt to search for the bears themselves.
“We can appreciate people want to be involved but this is a fluid and dangerous situation,” said BCCOS Insp. Kevin Van Damme.
Sgt. Tyre reiterated the severity of the operation: “This is probably the most dangerous thing we do. Please respect the situation and let us all do what we have to do.”
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