As search intensifies for grizzlies that attacked B.C. school group, residents say bear encounters on the rise

As B.C. conservation officers continued to search for the three grizzlies involved in Thursday’s attack on an elementary school group in Bella Coola, residents say the incident reflects years of rising bear encounters in the remote Central Coast community.

At a news conference Sunday, Sgt. Jeff Tyre with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said officers have installed trail cameras and tightened the search area to a few kilometres around the 4 Mile subdivision where the attack happened, believing that the bears are likely to return there.

Tyre said only one bear was spotted in the past 24 hours, and it was far from the attack site.

Three students and one teacher were hospitalized Thursday when the bear attacked a group of about 20 people, including teachers and Grade 4 and 5 student