Teachers fight off grizzly bears during school field trip

Conservation officers in Bella Coola, British Columbia, have captured two grizzly bears days after a school field trip turned tragic when a grizzly bear attacked and left two people critically injured and two more with serious injuries.

The attack occurred Thursday afternoon in Bella Coola, B.C. A grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked approximately 20 people from Acwsalcta School, an independent institution operated by the Nuxalk Nation.

The school group had stopped for lunch along a trail called "Old Trail" near Highway 20 on the province's Central Coast, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

B.C. Columbia Emergency Health Services received a call at 1:46 p.m. PT, reporting the attack, according to CBC. Two ambulances and a community paramedic responded to the scene, and two victims required helicopter transport to Vancouver for advanced care. Seven additional people were treated on scene but did not require hospital transport.

Inspector Kevin Van Damme of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service confirmed that the attack resulted in injuries to three children and one adult. Van Damme said that "teachers successfully repelled the bear using pepper spray and a bear banger," according the Conservation Officer Service.

A mother of one child told Canadian Press that teachers fought off the attacking animal, with one male educator absorbing most of the bear's assault whilst protecting students. Her son was traumatised by witnessing the attack on his classmates.

The injured individuals were treated at Bella Coola Hospital and transported to Vancouver for further care.

Unauthorised

By Monday, conservation officers had safely trapped one bear, but it had not yet been linked to Thursday's attack, according to the Conservation Officer Service.

"Conservation Officers have assessed the bear, including comparing attack scene evidence with evidence analysed from the captured bear. Evidence is not conclusive that the captured bear was involved in the attack," the service said in a statement posted on Facebook.

"As a result, the bear will be fitted with a GPS collar and relocated in coordination with wildlife biologists and the provincial wildlife veterinarian with the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship."

The service continues to search for three grizzly bears.

“These bears are still considered a danger to the public and we ask residents to avoid the 4 Mile area, stay indoors and not search for the bears themselves," said Insp. Kevin Van Damme. "The situation remains fluid as officers work tirelessly to capture and identify any bears involved. We also continue to support the Nuxalk Nation throughout these efforts."

Early investigation suggests the bear may have been previously injured, which officials believe could explain the unusual aggression.

Safety in wildlife

Employers should conduct a hazard identification and risk assessment to assess each situation when workers are working with or near wildlife, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

The agency suggests that employers do the following:

• Conduct a hazard identification and risk assessment to determine what controls are required.
• Determine a safe location for the camp. Stay away from known food-rich areas (e.g., salmon-spawning areas or berry fields) or areas where there have been problems in the past.
• Be aware of any signs of wildlife in the area, such as scat (feces), or signs of feeding.
• Reduce the attraction of food sources by using safe food storage and disposal methods, such as sealed containers.
• Store food and garbage in an animal-resistant place such as a vehicle, hard-sided trailer, food locker, or in a closed container hung high in a tree away from the tent site.
• Keep kitchen and eating areas away from sleeping quarters.
• Wash all dishes and utensils immediately after use and store them in designated areas. Dishes, pots, pans, and containers may still be attractive even after washing.
• Know what other items attract the local wildlife, such as pets, pet food, barbecues, gasoline, toiletries (including toothpaste), and cosmetics.
• Bring or pack out all garbage. Do not burn or bury it. Store garbage the same way you store food.
• Train and educate workers and supervisors about working safely around wildlife.
• Do not allow workers to work alone, where possible. Use frequent check-in procedures if working alone.
• Have an effective two-way communication system (e.g., a two-way radio if cell phone reception is not consistently available).
• Use deterrents, such as whistles, horns, flashing lights, bear spray, or bear bangers.
• Have appropriate first aid, rescue and evacuation procedures in place.
• Plan the work activities to avoid times when animals are likely to be eating, such as early morning and evening.
• Report any wildlife issues with the local natural resources or wildlife control office.