Mother and Daughter Die in Suspected Grizzly Attack Near Bella Coola; One Bear Captured for DNA Testing

A mother and daughter who went missing on a walk near their home in Bella Coola, on British Columbia's Central Coast, have been found dead in what the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) describes as a suspected grizzly bear attack. Officers captured a grizzly bear in the area on the evening of November 6 and will use DNA testing to determine whether it was involved.

Found a day apart, about 150 metres apart

The victims were Jennifer 'Jenny' Balcarras, 48, an art therapist, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20. Family members said the pair went out for a short afternoon walk on Sunday, November 1, and did not return; they were reported missing that evening. Searchers found Balcarras's remains on the afternoon of Monday, November 2, in the Snooka West Trail area, and Reed's remains the following afternoon about 150 metres away. Bella Coola is a community of about 2,100 people, and the trail lies about 8 kilometres east of town.

Bear responsible not yet determined; one captured for DNA testing

BCCOS Inspector Jeff Tyre said evidence at the scene suggested an animal was involved, but the cause of death has not been formally confirmed and it is not yet clear whether one bear or more was involved. Officers captured a grizzly on the evening of November 6; it will undergo forensic DNA testing and other investigation. Any bear confirmed to have been involved will be euthanized under provincial human-wildlife conflict guidelines to protect public safety, while unrelated bears will be released. Trapping continues, officers have urged the public to avoid the Snooka West Trail area, night patrols are under way, and residents have been advised to stay indoors after 8 p.m.

Second serious grizzly incident in the community in about a year

It is the second serious grizzly incident in Bella Coola in about a year. On November 20, 2025, a grizzly attacked about 20 elementary school students and teachers on a trail in the area, injuring 11 people, including one adult and three children who were badly hurt. Officers captured eight bears at the time; DNA testing ruled out several of them and all were released, and the bear responsible was never identified. Tyre said it was too early to say whether the same bear could be involved in both attacks. Terry Webber, chief administrative officer of the Nuxalk Nation, told CBC the community was still healing from last year's attack. Balcarras's brother Josh Balcarras told CBC his sister and niece were 'two peas in a pod' who shared many hobbies, and the family has started an online fundraiser to cover funeral costs.

(Sources: Canadian Press; CBC; CBS; Vancouver Sun; BC Conservation Officer Service.)