A 48-year-old woman and her 20-year-old daughter were killed in a suspected grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia, after going for a hike close to their home, authorities confirmed.
Their remains were discovered in the Snooka West Trail area, approximately 8 kilometers east of Bella Coola. The mother’s body was found Monday, while the daughter’s remains were located Tuesday afternoon. The two were found about 150 meters apart, according to the BC Conservation Officer Service.
The victims were identified as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter, Selah Reed, 20, CBC News reported. The family had reported them missing over the weekend after they failed to return from their hike.
The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service is investigating whether multiple grizzly bears were involved in the attack. Inspector Jeff Tyre said several bear sightings had been reported in the area, but no animals had been captured as of Wednesday.
Authorities are urging residents and visitors to stay away from the trail while officers continue efforts to locate any bears involved. Any captured animal will be assessed, and bears confirmed to have been involved in the attack will be euthanized under provincial wildlife conflict guidelines.
The Nuxalk Nation has recommended that residents remain indoors after 8 p.m. as a safety precaution. The recommendation is voluntary, while police and conservation officers are also conducting overnight patrols.
The deaths have renewed concerns in a community still recovering from a grizzly bear attack in November 2025, when 11 people, including schoolchildren and teachers, were injured near Bella Coola. The bear responsible for that attack was never found.
Officials said it is too early to determine whether the latest incident involved the same animal.