Bear emerged from forest to attack school group having lunch: B.C. conservation

By Canadian Press on November 21, 2025.

BELLA COOLA — British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service says a grizzly attack on a group of school students happened when the bear emerged from the forest as pupils and teachers were having lunch on a trail in the coastal community of Bella Coola.

The service says multiple teachers “physically intervened” in the attack and used bear spray and a bear banger to drive the grizzly away.

The group with students in Grades 4 and 5 were on an outing Thursday when the attack happened and the conservation service says the injured are three children and one adult.

Two suffered critical injuries and two serious injuries and are being transported to Vancouver for emergency care, while seven others were treated in the community.

The service says its officers worked overnight to find the grizzly but no bear has been seen, and it will continue to search the area, about 700 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.

The service says a preliminary investigation suggests the bear may have previously been injured and it’s asking community members to avoid the forested area and river near the area of the attack.

“We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues,” says Insp. Kevin Van Damme of the conservation officer service.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery.”

The school whose pupils and staff were injured in the attack is thanking them for their courage and resilience.

The Nuxalk Nation’s academy says in an online statement that it will continue to support any students or staff injured, as well as those who witnessed it and were traumatized.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2025.

The Canadian Press