Canadian mother and daughter die in suspected grizzly attack

A mother and her adult daughter have died after a suspected grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, their family announced. Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and Selah Reed, 20, were reported missing on 1 November when they did not return from what was meant to be a short afternoon walk, and their remains were found on a trail.

Where were the two women found?

The BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said the remains were discovered in a trail area in Bella Coola during search efforts by conservation officers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Balcarras’ remains were found on the Monday and Reed’s the following day, according to the service, which said evidence at the scene “suggested an animal may have been involved”.

Are conservation officers looking for a bear?

Conservation officers are working to track down any bears involved. 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. He said any captured bear would be assessed and, if it was found to have been involved, would be “dispatched in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines to protect public safety”.

Who were Jennifer Balcarras and Selah Reed?

Josh Balcarras, Jennifer Balcarras’ brother, told CBC the two were “two peas in a pod” who “got along really, really well” and shared many hobbies. “When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her,” he said. An online fundraiser to help the family with funeral costs said Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career and begin a new chapter.

How many grizzly bears live in British Columbia?

Between 10,000 and 13,000 grizzly bears are estimated to live in the province, according to British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, which has classified them as vulnerable. Grizzly bears are listed as a species of “special concern” under federal legislation, according to Environmental Reporting BC. The ministry says conflicts between bears and humans are “relatively rare” unless the animals are startled or protecting their cubs and food.

Have there been other bear attacks in British Columbia?

In October 2025, a grizzly bear injured two hikers in the McGregor Mountain area, and one of them died later of critical injuries; the bear was subsequently found dead. A month later, a bear attacked a school group, also in the Bella Coola area, injuring 11 people. The BC Wildlife Federation has said reports of grizzly-human conflicts have risen since the province banned hunting grizzly bears for sport in 2017. Jesse Zeman, the federation’s executive director, said: “With no hunting pressure, grizzlies and humans will increasingly occupy the same spaces with inevitable consequences.”

Frequently asked questions

Where did the suspected grizzly bear attack in Canada happen?

The remains of Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, were found in a trail area in Bella Coola, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, after they were reported missing on 1 November.

How many grizzly bears are there in British Columbia?

British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks estimates that between 10,000 and 13,000 grizzly bears live in the province, which classifies the species as vulnerable.

Are grizzly bear attacks common in British Columbia?

The provincial environment ministry says conflicts between bears and humans are “relatively rare” unless the animals are startled or protecting cubs and food, though several attacks have been reported in the province in recent years.

What happened in the October 2025 grizzly attack in British Columbia?

A grizzly bear injured two hikers in the McGregor Mountain area in October 2025, and one of them later died of critical injuries. The bear was later found dead.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)