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Grizzly Bear Attack Injures 11 on School Outing in Remote British Columbia
A grizzly bear that burst out of the forest during a school outing in Bella Coola, British Columbia, injured 11 people and triggered a major emergency response as authorities worked Friday to track down the animal.
The attack unfolded when a group from Acwsalcta School, operated by the Nuxalk Nation, stopped along a walking trail near the remote coastal community. Without warning, a single grizzly charged the group of fourth and fifth-graders and their teachers.
According to BC Emergency Health Services, two victims were critically injured, two were seriously hurt, and seven others received treatment at the scene. Several of the injured were airlifted to hospitals after being transported to a nearby airport.
Provincial officials credited the teachers for preventing a fatal incident. Tamara Davidson, British Columbia’s minister of environment and parks, said the adults acted with remarkable bravery during the sudden attack.
“I want to recognize the teachers who took great risk to protect their students,” Davidson said. “They were well prepared and their actions deserve our greatest respect.”
Kevin Van Damme of the BC Conservation Officer Service said the teachers used bear spray and handheld explosive devices known as bear bangers to drive the animal off. He said the educators placed themselves directly between the bear and the children.
“They definitely avoided worse injuries,” Van Damme said. “An incident involving more than a dozen people is extremely rare.”
Authorities continued searching for the bear on Friday, calling the situation dangerous and telling residents and visitors to stay indoors while armed officers patrolled the area. Trails around Bella Coola were closed, and the Nuxalk Nation urged the community to remain off local roads.
Parent Veronica Schooner said her 10-year-old son, Alvarez, was part of the group and narrowly avoided harm.
“He even felt its fur,” she told reporters. “He said the bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else.” Schooner added that some children were accidentally hit by bear spray during the frantic effort to stop the attack.
Four victims remained hospitalized, though families chose not to release updated conditions.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation weighed in after the attack, saying a 2017 provincial ban on grizzly hunting has coincided with an increase in conflicts. The organization stated that bear reports in the region have doubled since the ban took effect. Provincial officials pushed back, saying it was too early to discuss policy as the search for the bear continued.
“This is an ongoing live situation,” Davidson said. “Right now our focus is on safety and on supporting the families who were affected.
Acwsalcta School is closed for now as counselors work with students and staff impacted by the attack.
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