{"id":160431,"date":"2025-11-21T11:27:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T19:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interior-news.com\/2025\/11\/21\/3-children-1-adult-injured-in-bella-coola-grizzly-bear-attack\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T15:06:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T23:06:24","slug":"3-children-1-adult-injured-in-bella-coola-grizzly-bear-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interior-news.com\/2025\/11\/21\/3-children-1-adult-injured-in-bella-coola-grizzly-bear-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Three school children, 1 adult injured in Bella Coola grizzly bear attack"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE – Nov. 21 – 2:53 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The B.C. government hosted a press conference early in the afternoon on Nov. 21 to give an update on the bear attack that occurred in Bella Coola Valley.<\/p>\n

Tamara Davidson, minister of environment and parks, confirmed that four patients remain in hospital after the attack and families are asking for privacy at this moment. She also highlighted the bravery of the teachers during the attack.<\/p>\n

“We hold deep gratitute for the bravery shown by those who acted quickly to protect others,” she said. “I want to recognize the teachers who took great risk to protect their students.”<\/p>\n

Davidson added that the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) remains in the community and is actively searching the bear, with conservation officers from both the community and off working on the incident. She stressed the importance of staying inside during this time.<\/p>\n

“Conservations officers who were able to respond quickly, they are doing the important work of trying to locate the bear,” she said.<\/p>\n

Davidson also thanked the RCMP, BC Ambulance Service, BCCOS and health care workers for their work.<\/p>\n

She also highlighted the Nuxalk Nation’s leadership and care for its community in such distressing time.<\/p>\n

“We know this is a distressing time for the Nuxalk Nation. The Nuxalk Nation has shown remarkable leadership and care for their community,” she said. “They’re providing supports, food and smuding at the Youth Centre for anyone who needs it. I know this community well and I’ve seen firsthand the strength and that care.”<\/p>\n

The minister added that the provincial goverment has also reached out to the local school district to offer crisis, trauma and safety support.<\/p>\n

Kevin Van Damme, inspector at BCCOS confirmed at the conference that eight conservation officers have been deployed to the site with a focus on finding out what happened as well as capturing the bear.<\/p>\n

“We’re investigating the site, collecting physical evidence that could be used for forensic needs to match the bear in question,” he added. “Capture mitigation techniques have been set to capture and evaluate the bear.”<\/p>\n

Van Damme added that he recognizes this is incident is distressing for the community and that the conservation officer remains in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation.<\/p>\n

“As our investigaton continues, we thank them for their collaboration efforts to ensure the community awareness and shared safety information,” he said. “I really need to stress how dangerous this situation is with this bear at large and we need to keep people away from the 4 Mile area and keep them out of harm’s way.”<\/p>\n

At the press conference, the minister was questioned whether or not the recent bear attacks across the province have made the goverment to consider lifting the ban on hunting grizzlies which was approved back in 2017.<\/p>\n

She stated that at this time, there are no plans in lifting the current ban.<\/p>\n

“Anytime that there’s a conflict with wildlife, with bears, it’s a really strong reminder that we need to remember that we are outdoors and we are sharing outdoors with wildlife,” Davidson said.<\/p>\n

“Right now our focus is really on finding the bear that was involved in this attack. This is an ongoing live situation where the bear is still at large and the community doesn’t feel safe. The RCMP and the Conservation Officer Service is working closely to try to locate the bear.”<\/p>\n

In response to a BC Wildlife Federation’s statement on conflicts with grizzly bears are bound to rise across the province, Davidson said the main goal right now is to make sure that people are aware of their surroundings when they’re out in the outdoors.<\/p>\n

“Also making sure that they don’t have any attractants that are in their yards or that they’re bringing with them when they’re out on the trail,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I think the teachers in this incident, they were well prepared. They had bear spray, they had bear bangers and they were the real heroes in this situation. The community continues to want to protect the students and the teachers.”<\/p>\n

ORIGINAL STORY<\/strong><\/p>\n

A grizzly bear attack has injured three children and one adult, says BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS).<\/p>\n

Around 1:35 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20., BCCOS and Bella Coola RCMP responded to reports of a bear attack at an area called the Old Trail, close to 4 Mile.<\/p>\n

The victims were part of a school group who stopped along a trail near the river when the grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked them. While four people were injured, multiple teachers was able to use pepper spray and a “bear banger” on the grizzly, said BCCOS Insp. Kevin Van Damme in a video update on Friday.<\/p>\n

The adult and three children were treated at Bella Coola Hospital and are being transported to Vancouver for further care.<\/p>\n

A group of conservation officers worked throughout the night and early morning but were unable to find the bear. Additional officers have been called to the scene as BCCOS collects and analzying evidence and the surrounding area.<\/p>\n

At this time, the bear has not been found, but Van Damme said that preliminary information suggests it could be previously injured.<\/p>\n

“We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues. We thank them for their collaborative efforts to ensure community awareness and shared safety information,” said Van Damme. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery.”<\/p>\n