Mother and daughter killed in grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola

Jennifer Balcarras, 48, an art therapist, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, were killed in a suspected grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia. The pair were reported missing on November 1 after failing to return from what was intended to be a short afternoon walk on the Snooka West Trail, located approximately 8 kilometers east of Bella Coola. Balcarras' remains were discovered on November 3, and Reed's remains were found on November 4 during search efforts involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local search and rescue teams, and British Columbia Conservation Officers.

Inspector Jeff Tyre of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service confirmed that evidence at the scene suggested a grizzly bear attack, though authorities have not yet determined whether one or multiple bears were involved. Tyre stated that conservation officers are actively working to locate and capture any bears responsible for the attack. Any captured animal will be assessed, and if confirmed to have participated in the attack, will be killed in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines to protect public safety. The public has been advised to avoid the Snooka West Trail area during ongoing investigation and capture efforts.

Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola a few months prior to pursue a new career as an art therapist at a local school, where she worked to support student well-being. She leaves behind three adult children and a grandchild. Reed, described by family as having her whole life ahead of her, was just beginning her journey into adulthood. The family launched a fundraiser to cover funeral expenses, noting that Balcarras had not yet had time to establish savings following her relocation. A family member wrote that both women were experienced in remote living, having spent time in Alaska and other rugged areas of the province.

The incident has deeply affected the Bella Coola community, which experienced a similar attack approximately one year earlier in November 2025. In that earlier incident, a grizzly bear attacked a group of elementary school students and teachers near the community of 4 Mile, injuring 11 people, including children as young as nine years old. Despite an extensive search, the bear responsible for that attack was never located. Samuel Schooner, elected chief of the Nuxalk Nation, expressed the community's grief, acknowledging the trauma inflicted by both incidents.

Bella Coola, a remote community of approximately 2,100 people situated at the end of a fjord along British Columbia's central coast, is located in an area informally known as the Great Bear rainforest. The region's abundant food sources and remote geography make grizzly bear encounters common. According to the province's Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, between 10,000 and 13,000 grizzly bears are estimated to live in British Columbia, where they are classified as a vulnerable species. Bear safety expert Kim Titchener noted concerns about increasing human-bear conflicts in the region, attributing them to habitat loss, food stress caused by drought and climate change, and the resulting pressures on bear populations.