Second grizzly bear captured in Bella Coola after attack, B.C. conservation officers say
CBC
B.C. conservation officers say a second grizzly bear has now been captured in Bella Coola, though it has not been established whether the animal was involved in last week’s attack on an elementary school group.
Insp. Kevin Van Damme with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) confirmed the development in an interview with CBC’s Ian Hanomansing Monday afternoon.
He said officers will now immobilize the bear, assess its condition and collect evidence including DNA, to determine whether it matches material gathered at the attack scene or aligns with witness accounts.
Van Damme said the capture occurred near 4 Mile subdivision, the area where the attack happened and a place grizzlies are known to frequent.
Earlier Monday, another grizzly bear was trapped, the first since the search began following Thursday’s attack.
"Evidence is not conclusive that the captured bear was involved in the attack," reads a Facebook post from the BCCOS.
It goes on to say the animal will be fitted with a GPS collar and relocated.
Van Damme says one of the first priorities in capturing bears is establishing where bears regularly move in the area. Teams track movement patterns, set bait in locations the animals frequently use, and then attempt to capture and immobilize them.
He said officers have collected multiple forms of evidence from the scene of the attack.
This includes tracks, bite marks, hair samples and forensic evidence left on clothing, which will be used along with witness accounts to determine whether the captured bears are involved.
As for what will happen to any bears determined to be responsible, Van Damme said it is too early to say.
“We will work with biologists to understand the next steps and analyze why the bear did this,” he said, calling its behaviour “unusual.”
“We don’t see a bear coming into a large group of people and be as aggressive as it was.”
The service says officers will continue to find the three grizzly bears believed to be involved in the Nov. 20 attack, which left two people critically hurt and two others seriously injured.
WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse.
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