British Columbia Confirms Mother, Daughter Died in Grizzly Attack

A mother and daughter were killed in a grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia, and conservation officers say more than one bear may have been responsible, according to the Guardian.

The two women, identified by family as art therapist Jenny Balcarras and her 20-year-old daughter, Selah Reed, were reported missing over the weekend. Search crews located their remains near a trail a short distance from their home, the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service said late Tuesday, per the Guardian. Balcarras's body was found first, and Reed was located a day later, the outlet reported.

What happened near Bella Coola?

The women's vehicle was found at a trailhead near Bella Coola, a community of roughly 2,100 people, after a family member posted online that they were missing, the Guardian reported. The posting was later updated once conservation officers announced the suspected attack.

Who were the victims?

Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola for a new job and "to start a new chapter" of her life, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser started by her family and cited by the Guardian. She leaves three adult children and a grandchild. A relative, Mary Melissa Smith, wrote that Balcarras "was working toward building a future and had not yet had the opportunity to establish savings or put aside funds to help her family with unexpected expenses such as these," the Guardian reported.

Were multiple grizzly bears involved?

Inspector Jeff Tyre of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service said investigators are examining whether more than one bear took part in the attack, the Guardian reported. "Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this tragic time," Tyre said in a video statement cited by the outlet.

What are conservation officers doing now?

Tyre asked the public to avoid the area while officers work the scene. "We appreciate people's concerns and the desire to assist but it is critical the public stay out of the area — both due to the danger and to allow officers to do their work," he said, according to the Guardian. The deaths come after a grizzly attacked a group of schoolchildren and their teachers earlier in the year in the same area, the Guardian reported, a prior incident that has left the community on edge.

What should residents and visitors watch for?

• Stay out of the trail area near Bella Coola while the conservation service's investigation continues, officers said.
• Expect updates from the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service on whether a single bear or multiple grizzlies were involved.
• Watch for any changes to trail access or local wildlife advisories in the Bella Coola Valley.
• Follow the GoFundMe campaign for Balcarras's family, cited by relatives as the primary way the community is organizing support.

No further details on the investigation's timeline or on possible bear-management actions had been released as of the Guardian's report.