A grizzly bear attack in the Canadian province of British Columbia has led to the death of a mother and her daughter.
The family said the women identified as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20 were reported missing on 1 November after failing to return from what was meant to be a brief afternoon walk.
According to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS), their remains were discovered in a trail area in Bella Coola, and the service said evidence at the scene “suggested an animal may have been involved.”
Conservation officers are trying to locate any bears that were involved.
During search efforts by conservation officers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Balcarras’ remains were found on Monday and Reed’s on Tuesday.
Jeff Tyre, an inspector with the BCCOS, said it remains unclear whether more than one bear may have played a part in the women’s deaths.
He added that any bear captured would be assessed, and if it is determined to have been involved in the attack, “it will be dispatched in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines to protect public safety.”
Balcarras’ brother, Josh Balcarras, told CBC that Balcarras and Reed were “two peas in a pod” who “got along really, really well” and shared numerous hobbies.
“When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her,” he said.
According to an online fundraiser set up to help the family with funeral costs, Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career and start a new chapter in her life.
Environmental Reporting BC notes that grizzly bears are listed as a species of “special concern” under federal legislation and form an important part of the British Columbia landscape.
The province’s Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks estimates that between 10,000 and 13,000 grizzly bears live in the province, and it has classified them as vulnerable.
The ministry says conflicts between bears and humans are “relatively rare” unless the animals are startled or are protecting their cubs and food.
However, there have been several attacks in British Columbia in recent years.
In October 2025, a grizzly bear injured two hikers in the McGregor Mountain area, one of whom later died from critical injuries. The bear was subsequently found dead.
The next month, a bear attacked a school group also in the Bella Coola area injuring 11 people.
The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) has stated that reports of grizzly-human conflicts have increased since the province banned hunting grizzly bears for sport in 2017.
