A grizzly bear and her two cubs are believed to have been involved in the recent attack on a school group in Bella Coola, B.C., as stated by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS). During a press briefing over the weekend, BCCOS Sgt. Jeff Tyre mentioned that traps and snares have been set up in the vicinity of the 4 Mile subdivision, but no bears have been caught yet.
Tyre confirmed that based on their investigation and eyewitness reports, it is probable that a mother bear and her two cubs were the culprits in the incident that occurred on Thursday afternoon. The attack resulted in two individuals sustaining critical injuries while two others were seriously harmed, according to emergency responders.
The group from the school had halted for a meal along a trail near the community when the bear encounter took place, revealed BCCOS Insp. Kevin Van Damme in a social media update on Friday. Efforts are ongoing to safely trap the bears, extract DNA samples, and collaborate with wildlife experts to ascertain if the captured bears are the ones responsible for the attack, Tyre stated. A police helicopter equipped with thermal imaging technology is aiding in the search operation.
The conservation officer emphasized that any bears not associated with the incident will be relocated, and decisions on the fate of the offending bears have yet to be finalized. BCCOS has deployed eight field conservation officers and a First Nations liaison officer on-site, with additional resources on standby if required.
Residents have been advised to steer clear of the 4 Mile subdivision, stay indoors, and refrain from attempting to locate the bears independently. Van Damme stressed the need for caution and cooperation from the public during this critical and hazardous situation. Any sightings or relevant information can be reported to the authorities via the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.