By Sohaib Shams
Canadian authorities have confirmed that a mother and her adult daughter were killed in a grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia, after the two women were reported missing over the weekend.
Victims Identified
Jenny Balcarras, an art therapist who had recently moved to the remote community for a new job, and her 20-year-old daughter Selah Reed were found near the Snooka West trail, about eight kilometres east of Bella Coola. Balcarras’s remains were discovered first, followed by Reed’s a day later.
Investigation Underway
Conservation officers believe multiple grizzly bears may have been involved in the fatal attack. Inspector Jeff Tyre urged the public to stay out of the area to allow officers to conduct their investigation safely. A trapping effort to locate the bear or bears is underway.
Community Impact
The attack has shaken Bella Coola, a community of roughly 2,100 people in the Great Bear Rainforest region, where grizzly bears are common. In November, a grizzly injured 11 people, including children, in a nearby attack. Nuxalk Nation elected chief Samuel Schooner and British Columbia premier-designate Lorne Doerkson expressed condolences to the victims’ family and the community.
