British Columbia | End of search to find bear involved in attack
British Columbia conservation officers have stopped actively searching for the grizzly bear responsible for last month’s “extraordinary attack” on a group of students and teachers, which left four people seriously injured.
Published yesterday at
In a news release Friday, the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service said DNA and other forensic evidence ruled out the involvement of the four bears captured Wednesday.
The service also said no other bears had been seen in the area of the attack, near Bella Coola, British Columbia, in the past five days.
“Given this factor and the time of year when bears begin to hibernate, officers stopped actively searching for bears and the equipment was removed,” the organization said.
The service added that it would work with the Nuxalk First Nation to identify the bears and find solutions for harmonious coexistence with them. A full-time conservation officer has been assigned to Bella Coola, about 700 kilometers northwest of Vancouver.
Three students in a primary school class and a member of school staff were seriously injured in an attack on November 20, while their group of 20 was having dinner during a school trip. Seven other people were treated at the scene.
The Conservation Officer Service said 24 conservation officers helped search for the bear for more than two weeks, including officers who drove through the night to hand-deliver animal samples for analysis at the University of Alberta forensics lab.
“This is an exceptional intervention for an exceptional attack. Our investigation determined that the behavior of this bear was aggressive and unlike any other documented grizzly bear attack in British Columbia or Canada,” said Inspector Kevin Van Damme of the Conservation Officer Service.
“We sincerely appreciate the support we have received from our partners, including the Nuxalk Nation and its guardians, the RCMP, forensics laboratory staff and our ministry partners, who have worked alongside us throughout this incident. »
At least eight bears were captured after the attack. The last four bears, an adult female and her three cubs, will be released far from Bella Coola, like the previous four.
Chief Samuel Schooner called the attack a critical moment and praised the heroism of the teachers who scared away the animal.
Veronica Schooner, whose ten-year-old son, Alvarez, was in the 4th gradee et 5e year attacked, said he was so close to the animal that he even touched its fur.
“He was running for his life,” she said hours after the attack, in which she said a teacher was particularly hit.
More than $100,000 was raised to help the families of the injured with medical bills and other related expenses.
Conservation officers initially reported that they were looking for a female bear and her two cubs, including using drones equipped with thermal cameras.
Friday’s release said a briefing on the incident was attended by more than 100 people on Thursday.
“We appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with residents, present to them the measures we have taken and answer their questions,” Van Damme said in a statement.
“We remain committed to the community, continue to support the Nuxalk Nation and will closely monitor and respond diligently to any bear activity of concern.” »
With information from Nono Shen in Vancouver
