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What was to be a short afternoon field trip for about 20 students and staff of a school in Bella Coola, B.C., became a “traumatic event” where four people were badly hurt when a grizzly attacked without cause, the Nuxalk Nation’s elected chief said on Friday.
Samuel Schooner said in a statement that staff at the school followed all necessary protocols in Thursday’s attack and are well trained to be in their territories.
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“This unprecedented grizzly bear attack occurred without provocation and has resulted in significant trauma to our community,” his statement said.
“We are incredibly proud of our teachers and students who responded heroically in the moment to protect one another. The outcome could have been much worse.”
The group included students in Grades 4 and 5.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said the most severely injured were an adult and three children.
BC Emergency Health Services said Thursday when they were flown to hospital that two were in critical condition and the other two had serious injuries.
The conservation service said in a statement Friday that the grizzly emerged from the forest as pupils and teachers were having lunch on a trail.
Multiple teachers “physically intervened” in the attack and used bear spray and a bear banger to drive the grizzly away, the statement said.
The service said 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.
A preliminary investigation suggests the bear may have previously been injured and the conservation officer service is 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,” said 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.
