Grizzly Bear Attack on School Group Leaves 11 Injured

A grizzly bear injured 11 after it attacked a group of students and teachers, and according to The Guardian, it's still on the loose.

On Thursday, Nov. 20, a group of students were walking with their instructors along a trail in Bella Coola, British Columbia, when they were attacked by a grizzly bear. Of the 11 people injured in the attack, two suffered critical injuries and another two suffered serious injuries. The other seven victims were treated at the scene, according to Emergency Health Services spokesperson Brian Twaites.

Veronica Schooner, a parent of a 10-year-old in the group of fourth-and-fifth graders, reported that the instructors rushed to stop the charging bear, but one male teacher “got the whole brunt of it” and was later airlifted to a nearby hospital. Schooner’s son, Alvarez, got so close to the bear that “he even felt its fur,” she said. “He said that bear ran so close to him, but it was going after somebody else.”

Kids Were Accidentally Hit with Bear Spray

“He keeps crying for his friends, and oh my goodness, right away he started praying for his friends,” Schooner said of her son, adding that some of the children were accidentally hit with bear spray as teachers fought back.

The bear responsible for the attack is still at large, and officials are stopping at nothing to ensure its capture. "Public safety is the priority. The #BCCOS is on scene with RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and directing all residents to stay out of the forested and river area near the 4 Mile area until further notice," the agency's post stated. “Officers are armed. Remain indoors and off the highway.”

Grizzly Bear Attacks Are Uncommon

There have been 82 recorded fatal bear attacks in North America since the 1700s, with just a handful of attacks occurring each year across the continent.

According to the National Parks Service, fighting back against an aggressive grizzly bear attack is not recommended. Instead, they suggest you play dead.

"Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Lay flat on your stomach, and spread your legs apart. Keep your pack on, it will help protect you during an attack. Stay still and don’t make any noise—you’re trying to convince the bear that you aren’t a threat to it or its cubs," the Parks Service recommends on its website. "Do not get up right away because the bear may still be in the area. Wait several minutes until you are sure that the bear is gone."

If an aggressive grizzly bear attack persists, only then should you fight back.