Authorities in British Columbia say more than one grizzly bear may have been involved in an attack that killed a mother and daughter in Bella Coola, along the province’s central coast.
The Conservation Officer Service said a second body was found Tuesday afternoon by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and conservation officers searching the area, a day after the first set of remains was discovered. Inspector Jeff Tyre said it is “not yet clear if more than one bear was involved,” and any bears captured nearby will be assessed as part of the investigation.
The victims have been identified as art therapist Jenny Balcarras and her daughter, Selah Reed. Family members reported the two missing on Sunday.
Balcarras’ brother, Matthew Balcarras, described his sister as “incredibly strong,” noting she had lived in many remote and difficult places, including Alaska, before settling in Bella Coola a few months ago.
“She was a beautiful artist and was an inspiration for me and my brothers,” Matthew Balcarras said.
Authorities have put a curfew in place in the community, located about 620 miles north of Vancouver, as the search continues for the bear or bears responsible. Tyre said that if the “offending bear” is captured, it will be killed to protect public safety.
A fundraiser organized by relative Mary Melissa Smith said Reed was 20 years old, “with her whole life ahead of her.” Balcarras leaves behind three young adult children and a grandchild. Smith said Balcarras’ son, two daughters and grandson now face “the devastating loss of their mother” while also managing the cost of funeral arrangements.
The Central Coast Teachers’ Association said on social media that Balcarras had joined the local school community as a counselor in August, devoting “countless hours to connecting with the students she served” and working closely with teachers and staff on student well-being.
A community still recovering
The deaths come nearly a year after a grizzly attacked a group of 20 elementary school students and teachers in the same area, injuring one adult and three children. The bear involved in that attack was never captured.
Kim Titchener, founder of Calgary-based Bear Safety & More Inc., said she grew alarmed when she saw posts about the missing women circulating in Facebook hiking groups.
“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. “This community and area have suffered so much last year.”
Bella Coola is known for its large grizzly and black bear populations, and Titchener said it is common for residents to spot bears near their homes. She pointed to broader pressures on bear populations across British Columbia, including habitat loss and food stress tied to drought and climate change, which she said are driving more conflicts between bears and people.
“I don’t know if Bella Coola suffered from any drought issues, but certainly other parts of the province of BC did,” Titchener said.
