Multiple people may have been injured after grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola: B.C. conservation officers

The RCMP says several students are injured after a grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola on Thursday.

North District RCMP Cpl. Madonna Saunderson says the attack happened on Thursday afternoon, but she didn’t know the age or gender of the students.

The Nuxalk Nation says in a statement posted on its social media site that first responders are on the scene of the attack along with healers.

The nation warns residents to stay indoors since the bear still hasn’t been found.

The nation told residents not to walk anywhere in the area and that multiple ride options were available.

Both the conservation service and the First Nation have told residents to stay away from the forested and river areas of 4 Mile, in the Bella Coola River Valley.

Several grizzly attacks have been reported around the province in the last couple months:

• On Sept. 29, a grizzly attacked a hunter near Fort. St. James. Officers said the attack was likely defensive, as the mother bear was protecting her cub.
• On Oct. 2, another sow — this time with two cubs — attacked a hunter near Fort Steele. The hunter, Joe Pendry, fought the mother bear off and was eventually able to fend the animal off and call for help. He was flown to Kelowna General Hospital and went through multiple surgeries to his face and other parts of his body. Tragically, Pendry died of his injuries more than three weeks after the attack.
• On Oct. 12, two hikers were seriously injured in an attack on McGregor Mountain northeast of Prince George. The bear’s actions were found to be defensive, with the encounter happening after the hikers came across the bear with two of her cubs, BCCOS said.

The BCCOS is reminding hunters and backcountry trekkers to travel in groups, store food securely, carry bear spray, and make noise to alert wildlife.

If you encounter a grizzly, the service says you should stay calm and not run. Instead, you’re advised to speak softly, and back away slowly, or use bear spray if it charges.

CityNews has reached out to BC Emergency Health Services for more information on the status of the victims.

— With files from Charles Brockman.