The search for three grizzly bears continues after a shocking incident involving a school group in the Nuxalk First Nation community of Four Mile, British Columbia. The attack, which occurred on a field trip, resulted in injuries to 11 students and a teacher, with four of them airlifted to the hospital. Bear behaviorists describe the attack on such a large group as exceptionally rare.
The bear, believed to be a mother grizzly with her two cubs, has not been caught, and residents are advised to remain indoors or use transportation to avoid outdoor areas. The search is challenging due to the dense forest and difficult terrain along the Bella Coola river valley bottom, especially during winter rains. The Conservation Officer Service (COS) team is working tirelessly, setting snares and live traps, and using DNA evidence to identify the bears involved.
Nuxalk Chief Councillor Samuel Schooner urged locals to leave the bear search to the COS team, emphasizing the importance of not putting themselves in danger. Sgt. Jeff Tyre of the CSO confirmed that the bear was a mother grizzly with her cubs, and the search team is determined to find and test them against DNA evidence. The injured individuals are showing signs of improvement, but the road to recovery will be long, both physically and mentally, according to Chief Schooner.
This incident has left the Nuxalk community reeling, as they have lived in harmony with the bears for thousands of years. The search and trapping efforts continue, with the COS team working around the clock to ensure the safety of the community and the bears involved.
