RCMP deploy more officers in Bella Coola after fatal grizzly attack, students escorted to school
Additional RCMP officers have been deployed to Bella Coola after a fatal suspected grizzly bear attack. The community has a voluntary 8 p.m. curfew, and residents are asked to call the RAPP line if they see a bear.
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Additional RCMP officers have been deployed to Bella Coola on BC's central coast after a fatal suspected grizzly bear attack, Global News BC reported on November 5-6, 2026. Police are escorting students to school and from school buses, and the community is asking residents to remove food and attractants from their properties.
Safety measures in place
The Nuxalk Nation said in a social media update, as reported by Global News BC, that RCMP will be conducting more night patrols and offering voluntary rides home for youth out at night. The community has also put in place a voluntary 8 p.m. curfew, which will not be enforced.
The Nuxalk Nation is asking all residents to make sure no food or attractants are left outside and that fruit is removed from trees. If anyone sees a bear, they are asked to call the BC Conservation Officer Service RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
The BC Conservation Officer Service asked the public to continue to avoid the Snooka West Trail area, where it is conducting trapping operations. As of November 5, no animal had been caught.
Search for the bear
The BC Conservation Officer Service said conservation officers were working with provincial wildlife biologists and using various trapping techniques, with officers being rotated into the community, the Victoria Times Colonist reported on November 5. The service said it would compare bear DNA from a 2025 attack at the same location with samples from the current attack. The animal from the 2025 attack was never captured.
Context
Bella Coola is a community about 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver on BC's central coast. The Victoria Times Colonist reported that in November 2025, a grizzly bear attacked a group of about 20 elementary school students and teachers in the same community, leaving one adult and three children badly injured. The elected chief of the Nuxalk Nation said the community is experiencing "a time of layered tragedy" and urged members to support each other.
Bella Coola residents can call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 to report a bear sighting.
Questions this story answers
What is the safety response in Bella Coola after the fatal bear attack?
Global News BC reported on November 5-6, 2026 that additional RCMP officers have been deployed to Bella Coola. Police are escorting students to school and from school buses, conducting more night patrols, and offering voluntary rides home for youth out at night. The Nuxalk Nation and community have set a voluntary 8 p.m. curfew, which is not enforced.
What should Bella Coola residents do to stay safe?
Global News BC reported that the Nuxalk Nation asks residents to remove all food and attractants from outside their homes and to remove fruit from trees. Anyone who sees a bear should call the BC Conservation Officer Service RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277. Residents and visitors should avoid the Snooka West Trail area, where the BC Conservation Officer Service is still conducting trapping efforts.
Has the bear been caught in the Bella Coola attack?
As of November 5, 2026, the BC Conservation Officer Service reported that no animal had been caught. The Victoria Times Colonist reported that conservation officers were working with provincial wildlife biologists and using various trapping techniques, with officers being rotated into the community. The service is comparing bear DNA from a 2025 attack at the same location with samples gathered in the wake of the latest attack.
What happened at Bella Coola last year involving bears?
The Victoria Times Colonist reported that Bella Coola, about 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver on BC's central coast, was the site of a grizzly bear attack in November 2025 on a group of about 20 elementary school students and teachers. One adult and three children were badly injured in that attack. The animal involved in the 2025 attack was never captured.
What area should people avoid in Bella Coola?
The BC Conservation Officer Service has asked the public to avoid the Snooka West Trail area, where conservation officers and RCMP are conducting their search and trapping operations. The Victoria Times Colonist reported on November 5 that trapping techniques are being used and officers are being rotated into the community.
Who is the Nuxalk Nation and what have they said?
The Nuxalk Nation is the First Nation in Bella Coola, BC. The elected chief told The Canadian Press, as reported by the Victoria Times Colonist on November 5, that the community is experiencing a time of layered tragedy and urged members to check in on each other. The Nation organized a drum circle in the community and published safety guidance on social media.
How is the RCMP's response different from usual in Bella Coola?
Global News BC reported that additional Mounties have been specifically brought into the Bella Coola region to help with safety operations. This is a temporary deployment beyond the community's usual RCMP presence. The additional officers are focused on escorting students, conducting night patrols and providing rides home for youth after dark.
Is the 8 p.m. curfew in Bella Coola enforced?
Global News BC reported that the 8 p.m. curfew in Bella Coola is recommended but not enforced. It was introduced by the community as a precautionary measure while conservation officers continue the search for the bear and police conduct increased night patrols in the area.
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