By Salma El-Sakka
A 48-year-old woman and her 20-year-old daughter were found dead following a suspected grizzly bear attack in British Columbia, Canada, authorities said.
Victims identified
Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, were reported missing on Sunday after failing to return from a walk on the Snooka West Trail on Saturday afternoon. Their family said the pair had gone for a short walk near their home. Search teams from the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police discovered Balcarras’s remains on Monday and Reed’s body on Tuesday.
Investigation underway
Conservation officers are investigating and have begun trapping operations. Inspector Jeff Tyre of the BCCOS said evidence at the scene indicated a possible animal attack. Any captured bear will be examined, and if determined responsible, it will be dispatched per provincial human-wildlife conflict guidelines. Authorities have urged the public to stay out of the area during the operation.
Family remembers victims
Josh Balcarras, Jennifer’s brother, described the mother and daughter as inseparable hiking companions. He said the family became concerned when they did not return or respond to calls. Balcarras worked as an art therapist and had recently moved to Bella Coola for a new job, leaving behind three adult children and a grandchild. Reed worked as an education assistant and was pursuing further studies online. Relatives remembered her as a gentle soul who enjoyed ballet, art, and hiking.
Previous attacks in region
The incident has raised concerns in Bella Coola, where a grizzly bear attacked a group of schoolchildren and teachers last year, injuring 11 people. That animal was never found. British Columbia is home to an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 grizzly bears, classified as a species of special concern. The province has recorded several attacks in recent years, including one in October that left a hiker dead and another in November that injured 11.
