Four grizzly bears that were captured have been confirmed to have no connection to the recent attack on a school group in Bella Coola, B.C. Conservation officers have decided to relocate these bears with the assistance of wildlife experts, away from the Central Coast community but within their natural habitat. The search for the grizzly sow and her cubs, believed to be responsible for the attack on the group of 20 individuals, continues in Bella Coola.
Drones equipped with thermal cameras are being utilized in the search for any bears linked to the incident. The bears were caught during the pursuit of the sow and cubs that attacked three children and a teacher during a field trip on November 20.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is intensifying efforts to locate the bears involved in the attack. The region near the 4 Mile subdivision where the incident occurred has a significant bear population, with approximately 22 bears per 1,000 square kilometers.
Sgt. Jeff Tyre of the BCCOS emphasized the importance of safely capturing the bears to determine their involvement in the attack. He mentioned the risks associated with trapping animals and highlighted that decisions regarding the fate of the captured bears are pending.
Inspector Kevin Van Damme emphasized the need for further analysis to understand the reasons behind the bear attack. The public is advised to refrain from searching for the bears independently and to avoid the area for safety reasons.