Conservation officers in British Columbia have ceased active efforts to capture the grizzly bear involved in a notable attack on a group of schoolchildren and teachers, which occurred on November 20, 2025, near Bella Coola. The attack left four individuals seriously injured and sparked a significant response from local wildlife officials.

The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service released a statement indicating that DNA and other forensic evidence had effectively cleared four bears that had been captured shortly after the incident. There have been no reported bear sightings in the vicinity for the past five days. The organization noted that, as bears begin their denning process during this time of year, officers will no longer actively pursue bears, and related equipment has been dismantled.

In collaboration with the Nuxalk Nation, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service plans to explore ways to safely coexist with bears in the area. To this end, a full-time conservation officer has been stationed in Bella Coola, located approximately 700 kilometers northwest of Vancouver, to monitor ongoing bear activity.

The attack involved three students from a Year 4-5 classroom and a school staff member who sustained severe injuries while the group of 20 was having lunch during a field trip. Seven others received on-site treatment following the incident. A total of at least eight bears were captured in the aftermath of the attack, including an adult female and her cubs, which will be relocated far from Bella Coola.

Describing the attack, Inspector Kevin Van Damme of the conservation service remarked, “This was an extraordinary response to an extraordinary attack. Our investigation determined the behavior and actions of this bear were aggressive and unlike any other documented grizzly bear attack we have seen in B.C. or Canada.” He expressed gratitude towards the Nuxalk Nation, RCMP, forensic lab staff, and other ministry partners for their collaborative efforts during the investigation.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, Chief Samuel Schooner of the Nuxalk Nation referred to the incident as a moment of "life and death" and praised the quick actions of teachers who drove the bear away from the students. Veronica Schooner, whose son Alvarez was among those injured, recounted his close encounter with the bear, stating he felt its fur as he ran for safety. One male teacher reportedly suffered the brunt of the attack while protecting the children.

In the wake of the incident, over $100,000 has been raised to assist the families with medical and related expenses. The conservation officers initially believed they were pursuing a sow and her two cubs, employing tools such as drones equipped with thermal cameras in their search efforts.

On December 4, 2025, more than 100 local residents attended an informational session regarding the attack, allowing officials to connect with the community and address any concerns. Inspector Van Damme reaffirmed their commitment to monitor bear activity and support the Nuxalk Nation moving forward.