Bear that attacked school group still on loose in British Columbia

Conservation officers in British Columbia, Canada, are still searching for a grizzly bear and her two cubs, days after the sow attacked a group of schoolchildren and their teachers in an “exceedingly rare” encounter.

- Leyland Cecco

Eleven people, some as young as nine, were injured on Thursday when the bear emerged from the forest near 4 Mile, a Nuxalk community near the town of Bella Coola, and attacked a school group on a walking trail.

Three teachers fought the bear off. One emptied two cans of bear spray that appeared to have little effect, another jumped on it and pummelled it with punches, and a third hit it repeatedly with her crutches before it fled back into the woods.

Three children were taken to hospital, including two with critical injuries. An adult was also flown to a hospital in Vancouver. Seven others were treated in the community.

Tamara Davidson, the province’s environment minister, said the teachers “took great risk” to protect the children in their care, calling them “well prepared” and “true heroes”.

The attack has sent 4 Mile residents into lockdown as the search for the aggressive bear continues.