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Overnight Search Intensifies for Grizzly After Bella Coola School Attack

Authorities have escalated the search using traps, RCMP thermal imaging, potential DNA matching to pinpoint the bears.

Overview

  • Conservation officer teams rotated through the night in the Bella Coola area as an RCMP aircraft scanned with thermal imaging cameras.
  • Officials believe a female grizzly with two cubs was involved, and they have asked residents not to enter the woods or join search efforts.
  • Three students and one teacher were hospitalized after the Thursday attack on a field trip group of about 20 during lunch.
  • A Nuxalk Nation GoFundMe raised nearly $40,000 within a day to support injured families, with a cultural fire continuing outside the youth centre.
  • Investigators plan to confirm bear involvement through DNA where possible, and any captured animals will be evaluated with biologists and the provincial veterinarian to determine next steps.