The RCMP says several students are injured after a grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola on Thursday.<\/p>\n
North District RCMP Cpl. Madonna Saunderson says the attack happened on Thursday afternoon, but she didn\u2019t know the age or gender of the students.<\/p>\n
Saunderson tells CityNews the extent of injuries is unknown, but they are thought to be serious.<\/p>\n
The Nuxalk Nation says in a statement posted on its social media site that first responders are on the scene of the attack along with healers.<\/p>\n
The nation warns residents to stay indoors since the bear still hasn\u2019t been found.<\/p>\n
The nation told residents not to walk anywhere in the area and that multiple ride options were available.<\/p>\n
Both the conservation service and the First Nation have told residents to stay away from the forested and river areas of 4 Mile, in the Bella Coola River Valley.<\/p>\n
Several grizzly attacks have been reported around the province in the last couple months:<\/p>\n
On Sept. 29, a grizzly attacked a hunter near Fort. St. James<\/a>. Officers said the attack was likely defensive, as the mother bear was protecting her cub.<\/p>\n On Oct. 2, another sow \u2014 this time with two cubs \u2014 attacked a hunter near Fort Steele. The hunter, Joe Pendry, fought the mother bear off <\/a>and was eventually able to fend the animal off and call for help. He was flown to Kelowna General Hospital and went through multiple surgeries to his face and other parts of his body. Tragically, Pendry died of his injuries<\/a> more than three weeks after the attack.<\/p>\n