Conservation officers call off search for grizzly in Bella Coola attack

British Columbia conservation officers say they have called off the search for the bear responsible for attacking a group of schoolchildren in Bella Coola, British Columbia, on November 20.

The news comes after forensic tests determined that four grizzly bears captured this week, an adult female and three juveniles, were not linked to the attack that left three children and one teacher seriously injured during a school field trip.

A total of eight bears were captured and tested while officers searched for the culprit. They are all being relocated from the community.

But with no new bear sightings and grizzlies moving into denning season, the service said on social media, they are “no longer actively attempting to trap bears and the equipment has been removed.”

WATCH | The father of a child attacked by a grizzly bear says the incident is very unusual:

The father of a girl injured by a grizzly bear reflects on coexistence with nature

Jason Moody is the father of one of the children involved in the grizzly bear attack on Nuxalk students and teachers near Bella Coola, British Columbia. He says people in his community have lived alongside bears for thousands of years and this recent event shows the need to be in balance with nature.

Attack was considered This is highly unusual for both conservationists and the Nuxalk Nation, who say they have long coexisted with grizzlies and that the school group is well versed in bear safety rules.

For more than two weeks, officials searched People across the region are trying to find the bear responsible for the attack, setting traps and going on patrols.

In total, the conservation service said 24 officers were deployed in shifts, including some who traveled hundreds of kilometers to hand deliver samples collected from captured bears to the University of Alberta's forensic laboratory.

The Nuxalk Nation held an information session Thursday evening about the attack and the search for the offending bear, which they said was attended by more than 100 people.

However, the details of this meeting are being kept secret from the public, The Nation reports, out of respect for the victims.

Captured bears that are being relocated will be equipped with GPS collars for monitoring.