Two women killed in suspected grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, B.C
The victims were identified as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, who were reported missing after a walk.
BELLA COOLA · The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says more than one grizzly bear may have been involved in an attack that killed a mother and daughter near Bella Coola. The remains of Jennifer Balcarras, 48, were found on Monday in the Snooka West Trail area, the service said. The body of her daughter, Selah Reed, 20, was located on Tuesday afternoon. Family members reported the pair missing on Sunday after they did not return from a walk on the trail on Saturday afternoon. Insp. Jeff Tyre of the conservation service said it is "not yet clear if more than one bear was involved." Trapping efforts are underway but no bears have been captured. Tyre said any bears captured will be assessed, and if determined to be responsible for the attack, they will be killed in accordance with provincial guidelines to ensure public safety. Officers are in regular contact with the nearby Nuxalk Nation and the Bella Coola community, and people are being told to stay away from the west trail area of the Snootka trail system.
"It's surreal. It doesn't seem real. It feels like a dream," said Josh Balcarras, Jennifer's brother. He said the pair was familiar with the trail, which he described as "not in a remote area." Balcarras worked as an art therapist and school counsellor in Bella Coola, having moved there recently to start a new career. She had four children, with Reed being the youngest. Reed was an education assistant studying online through Athabasca University.
"She was very much a central person in our family," said her brother Matthew Balcarras. Family described Reed as "a gentle, sweet, quiet soul" who loved ballet, art and hiking. "They were two peas in a pod. When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her," said Josh Balcarras. A fundraiser organized by a relative said Reed was "with her whole life ahead of her," while Balcarras leaves behind three young adult children and a grandchild.
The Central Coast Teachers' Association said Balcarras had joined their school community as a counsellor in August and devoted countless hours to connecting with students and supporting staff well-being. Nuxalk Nation elected Chief Samuel Schooner said in a statement the community understands firsthand the trauma this incident will inflict. "Our thoughts are with the victim's family as they learn of this tragic event," Schooner said. The attack comes nearly a year after a grizzly bear attacked a group of 20 elementary school students and teachers in the same area, leaving one adult and three children badly hurt. The animal involved in that November 2025 attack was never captured. Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety education in Calgary, said she was concerned when she saw reports the women were missing. "When I saw that they were missing and in the area that they were missing, my heart just dropped because I just kind of knew this could be a bear attack," Titchener said. Titchener said there are "concerning pressures" on bear populations in B.C. due to habitat loss and food stress caused by drought and climate change, leading to more conflicts with people. She noted that following last year's attack, she had several daycares and school groups calling for bear safety training. Bella Coola is known for its large population of grizzly and black bears, and Titchener said it is common for people there to see bears near their homes.
With files from The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail and CBC News