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A school field trip in a remote area of British Columbia ended in a harrowing encounter when a grizzly bear attacked a group of elementary school students and adults. The incident occurred on a popular trail near Bella Coola, resulting in injuries to three people and prompting an emergency response that led to the animal being euthanized.
The group was walking along the Clayton Falls Trail when the attack took place. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the bear charged the party, injuring two women and a child. One man in the group reportedly fought off the bear, an act that likely prevented further injuries to the children. Emergency services responded quickly to the remote location and tended to the victims on site.
Two women sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were airlifted from the Bella Coola area to a larger hospital for advanced medical care. The third victim, a student, reportedly suffered minor injuries and did not require hospitalization. The remaining children and adults in the group were unharmed but shaken by the event and were safely escorted from the area.
In the aftermath of the attack, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) was mobilized to ensure public safety. Officers located a sow grizzly believed to be responsible for the incident later that day. The bear was euthanized by conservation officers because it was deemed a significant and ongoing threat to the public. Bear attacks are relatively rare, but encounters can increase in the fall as bears forage aggressively for food before hibernation. Officials reminded the public to be vigilant, carry bear spray, and make noise while hiking in wilderness areas. The incident highlights the potential dangers of wildlife encounters in regions where human and animal habitats overlap.
