Mother and daughter die in suspected grizzly bear attack in Canada's Bella Coola

A mother and her daughter have died in a suspected grizzly bear attack in the Canadian province of British Columbia, their family has announced. The women were Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20.

The family said the two were reported missing on 1 November when they did not return from what was supposed to be a short afternoon walk.

Their remains were found in a trail area in Bella Coola, British Columbia. The BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said evidence at the scene suggested an animal may have been involved in the deaths.

Balcarras' remains were found on Monday and Reed's on Tuesday during search efforts in which conservation officers worked alongside the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Jeff Tyre, an inspector with the BCCOS, said it was not yet clear whether more than one bear was potentially involved in the women's deaths. Conservation officers are working to track down any bears involved.

Tyre added that any captured bear would be assessed, and if it is found 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 the mother and daughter were 'two peas in a pod' who got along really well and shared many hobbies. 'When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her,' he said.

An online fundraiser has been set up to help the family with funeral costs. According to that page, Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career and begin a new chapter in her life.

Grizzly bears are listed as a species of 'special concern' under federal legislation and are an important part of the British Columbia landscape. Between 10,000 and 13,000 grizzly bears are estimated to live in the province, according to the province's Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, which has classified them as vulnerable.

According to the ministry, conflicts between bears and humans are relatively rare unless the animals are startled or protecting their cubs and food.

There have, however, been a number of 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 of critical injuries; the bear was later found dead. The following month, a bear attacked a school group, also in the Bella Coola area, injuring 11 people.

The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) has said reports of grizzly-human conflicts have risen since the province introduced a ban on hunting grizzly bears for sport in 2017. The federation's executive director Jesse Zeman said at the time that with no hunting pressure, grizzlies and humans will increasingly occupy the same spaces, with inevitable consequences.