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A grizzly bear attacked a group of students and teachers on Thursday in 
a remote community on British Columbia's Central Coast, injuring several 
people, according to the school, police and conservation officials.

The incident occurred in the Bella Coola Valley of the Nuxalk Nation.

CBS News' Canadian partner CBC reported two people were critically 
injured and two others were seriously hurt. Others were treated on the 
scene and released.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed to CBS News that they 
responded to a call at 1:35 p.m. Thursday about a grizzly bear attack in 
an area called Old Trail, but did not provide any further information 
about the victims. CBS News also reached out to the British Columbia 
emergency service but did not receive a response.

The B.C Conservation Officer Service put out a statement urging 
residents to stay away from the forest and river area near the site 
until further notice. The agency said efforts to locate and capture the 
bear continued on Friday.

The Nuxalk Nation chief, Samuel Schooner, said in a Facebook post that 
the "aggressive bear" in the area is still on the loose. He warned 
people not to look for it and to stay indoors.

"There has been a bear incident near 4 Mile. For the safety of all, 
please stay indoors, off the highway near the administration office, and 
off all trails," the chief said.

The conservation service said the students and teachers had stopped 
along a trail near the river when a grizzly bear emerged from the forest 
and attacked.

"Multiple teachers physically intervened, using bear spray and a bear 
banger, to drive the bear away," the agency said.

Veronica Schooner said her 10-year-old son Alvarez was in the class and 
was "traumatized" and "in shock" after the attack, The Canadian Press 
reported.

"He was running for his life," she said, adding that the bear got so 
close, "he even felt its fur."

She told the news outlet a lot of people tried to stop the attack but 
one male teacher "got the whole brunt of it."

Acwsalcta School, an independent First Nation school in the Nuxalk 
Nation in Bella Coola, said in a Facebook post that the incident 
involved the school's community members and that the school will be 
closed on Friday due to the bear attack.

"Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the student and staff 
member who were injured," the school wrote. "...We also extend our care 
to all students who witnessed or were affected by the event; no one 
handles events like this alone, and we are committed to providing the 
emotional support and resources needed in the days and weeks ahead."

Last month, a grizzly bear attack injured two hikers in B.C's McGregor 
Mountain area, northeast of Prince George. One of the hikers who was 
transported to the hospital in critical condition died a few weeks later 
due to complications.

The grizzly that was involved in the mauling was also found dead, the 
B.C Conservation Officer Service said.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grizzly-bear-attack-injures-students-teachers-british-columbia-canada/