Friday November 21, 2025 | VANCOUVER, BC [Posted at 3:05 pm | Updated 11 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Three children and one adult are still in hospital with serious injuries following a grizzly bear attack on November 20 during a school outdoor activity.
About 20 people were on the excursion which was intended to be a land-based healing activity.
In addition to the four injured persons taken to hospital, seven others were injured at the scene.
The incident happened near Highway 20 in Bella Coola.
According to Minister of Environment and Parks Tamara Davidson and BC Conservation Officer Inspector Kevin Van Damme, the teachers were “well prepared” for the bear incident by having bear spray and bear bangers and protecting the children as much as they could.
Minister Davidson said the parents are asking for privacy at this time. She said the teachers were “well prepared” and are “true heroes”.
According to other reports, the school group was “having lunch on a trail”. The children on the class trip are reportedly ages nine and 10.
Today in the Ministry’s 2 pm press conference led by Minister Davidson, it was not specified whether there were attractants (such as food) which may have caused the bear to approach.
RCMP, BC Ambulance and BC Conservation Officers attended the scene of the attack which was first reported to RCMP around 1:30 pm on November 20.
None of the injuries have been described with any details but it’s logical to think that injuries might include lacerations and blunt force trauma.
Hibernation season:
Bears are preparing for hibernation at this time of year and naturally seeking to increase their fat reserves by eating as much as possible.
The Bella Coola Valley is home to many grizzly bears, said a conservation officer during today’s media availability. It’s unclear whether extra consideration was given to taking an outdoor field trip with lunch into an area known to be populated with bears during the pre-hibernation season.
Still searching:
BC Conservation Officers are still looking for the grizzly bear that caused the injuries; eight CO’s were sent to the area for this work.
Any other grizzly bears that are found in the meantime will be matched with forensic evidence of the offending bear, said Van Damme today.
Part of the investigation involves trying to determine why the bear reached the way it did. One media report included a suggestion that the bear may have been previously injured.
Minister Davidson pointed out today that people share the outdoors with the existing wildlife that is already there.
People should be aware of their surroundings when outdoors and be well prepared, said Davidson.
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NEWS SECTIONS: EDUCATION | SCHOOL DISTRICTS | OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS | K-12 EDUCATION & SCHOOLS