Canada Halts Search for Grizzly Bear Responsible for Deadly Attack on Students and Teacher
BELLA COOLA, British Columbia – Canadian wildlife officials have suspended the search for the grizzly bear that attacked a group of students and a teacher on a hiking trail last month, after capturing and ruling out eight bears as the perpetrator.The attack, which occurred during a lunch break, left three students and one teacher seriously injured.
The intensive search, launched promptly following the incident, involved capturing multiple grizzly bears in the Bella Coola region for DNA testing. Despite these efforts, none of the captured animals matched the DNA evidence collected at the scene. Wildlife managers have now called off the active search as grizzly bears in the area are beginning to dig dens in preparation for hibernation.
The eight bears that were captured have been released back into the wild, each fitted with a GPS tracking collar for ongoing monitoring. While grizzly bear hunting is illegal in Canada, the attack has reignited debate among some groups regarding the hunting ban.
Local wildlife managers and members of the Nuxalk First Nation emphasize that attacks by grizzly bears are rare. A Nuxalk member told CBC News, “We have lived alongside them for thousands of years. Our relationship is one of respect. They are revered and honored.” He further explained that peaceful coexistence between bears and humans is more likely when sufficient food sources are available for the animals, noting that food scarcity can lead to increased stress and potential conflict.