Bear emerged from forest to attack school group having lunch: B.C. conservation

British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service says a grizzly attack on a group of school students happened when the bear emerged from the forest as pupils and teachers were having lunch on a trail in the coastal community of Bella Coola.

The service says multiple teachers “physically intervened” in the attack and used bear spray and a bear banger to drive the grizzly away. 

The group with students in Grades 4 and 5 were on an outing Thursday when the attack happened and the conservation service says the injured are three children and one adult. 

Two suffered critical injuries and two serious injuries and are being transported to Vancouver for emergency care, while seven others were treated in the community.

The service says its officers worked overnight to find the grizzly but no bear has been seen, and it will continue to search the area, about 700 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.

The service says a preliminary investigation suggests the bear may have previously been injured and it’s asking community members to avoid the forested area and river near the area of the attack. 

“We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues,” says Insp. Kevin Van Damme of the conservation officer service. 

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery.”

The school whose pupils and staff were injured in the attack is thanking them for their courage and resilience. 

The Nuxalk Nation’s academy says in an online statement that it will continue to support any students or staff injured, as well as those who witnessed it and were traumatized.

B.C. Premier David Eby responds to attack

The attack has prompted a response from B.C. Premier David Eby. While speaking to the media in Surrey Friday, he called the attack a “terrible story and a terrible outcome.”

He says he can only imagine how challenging the situation must be for the students and teachers who were attacked.

“We wish a quick recovery and the best for everyone who was injured,” he said. “I want to thank the teachers for their heroism, their early accounts of their willingness to confront this vicious animal.”

“I want to send my heart out to the parents and the kids and the loved ones of everyone that’s been injured in hospital right now.”

Minister of Environment urges residents near the attack site to stay indoors

At a media event Friday, Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson said the families of those involved in the attack have asked for privacy, so they won’t be sharing details on their condition.

She has a warning for residence close to the attack site.

“To ensure the safety of the community members, we are asking that everyone please stay indoors,” she said.

Meanwhile, BCCOS inspector Kevin Van Damme says they’ve set traps in the area and maintains these kinds of attacks are extremely rare.

“In my 34 years of experience, I have not seen an attack like this with a large group of people,” he said.

Samuel Schooner, the elected Chief of the Nuxalk Nation, also says he has never experienced anything like this during his time in the community.

— With files from Emma Crawford and David Nadalini.