A grizzly sow and her three cubs have been euthanized after a rare predatory attack killed a mother and daughter in Bella Coola last week.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service confirmed Tuesday that DNA analysis conclusively linked the four bears to the fatal incident, which investigators say involved rare predatory behavior.
Because bears responsible for fatal human attacks cannot be safely relocated or rehabilitated, the animals were destroyed to eliminate the extreme risk to the public. Predatory behavior occurs when a bear stops viewing humans as a threat and begins actively stalking, circling, and maintaining an unwavering, direct gaze.
This type of encounter is exceptionally rare, with only two such predatory fatalities recorded in British Columbia since 2012, making the recent loss of life a deeply tragic and unusual event.