Grizzly bear attacks group of students and teachers in Western Canada

A grizzly bear attacked a group of students and teachers Thursday in a remote community on British Columbia’s central coast, injuring several people, according to school, police and conservation officials.

The incident occurred in the Bella Coola Valley of the Nuxalk Nation.

News themezone’ Canadian partner CBC reported that two people were seriously injured and two others were seriously injured. Others were treated at the scene and released.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed to News themezone that they responded to a call at 1:35 p.m. Thursday about a grizzly bear attack in an area called Old Trail, but did not provide any further information about the victims. News themezone also contacted British Columbia’s emergency services, but did not receive a response.

The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service issued a statement urging residents to stay away from the forest and river area near the site until further notice. The agency said efforts to locate and capture the bear continued Friday.

Nuxalk Nation Chief Samuel Schooner said in a Facebook post that the “aggressive bear” in the area is still on the loose. He warned people not to look for him and to stay home.

“There has been a bear incident near 4 Mile. For everyone’s safety, please stay home, off the road near the administration office and off all trails,” the chief said.

The conservation service said the students and teachers had stopped on a trail near the river when a grizzly bear emerged from the woods and attacked.

“Several teachers intervened physically, using bear spray and a bear striker, to scare the bear away,” the agency said.

Veronica Schooner said her 10-year-old son Alvarez was in the class and was “traumatized” and “in shock” after the attack, The Canadian Press reported.

“He was running for his life,” she said, adding that the bear came so close that he “even felt its fur.”

She told the news outlet that many people tried to stop the attack, but one teacher “took the brunt of it.”

Acwsalcta School, an independent First Nations school in the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola, said in a Facebook post that the incident involved members of the school’s community and that the school will be closed on Friday due to the bear attack.

“Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the student and staff member who were injured,” the school wrote. “…We also extend our attention to all students who witnessed or were affected by the event; no one handles events like this alone, and we are committed to providing the emotional support and resources needed in the days and weeks ahead.”

Last month, a grizzly bear attack injured two hikers in the McGregor Mountain area of ​​British Columbia, northeast of Prince George. One of the hikers who was taken to the hospital in critical condition died a few weeks later due to complications.

The grizzly bear that was involved in the attack was also found dead, the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service said.