Conservation officers captured one grizzly for DNA testing as they investigate whether one or more bears killed the women near Bella Coola.
BELLA COOLA, British Columbia — A 48-year-old mother and her 20-year-old daughter were killed in a suspected grizzly bear attack while walking near their home on British Columbia’s central coast, authorities and relatives said, as conservation officers continued searching for any animals connected to the deaths.
Family members identified the women as Jennifer “Jenny” Balcarras and her daughter, Selah Reed. They were reported missing Nov. 1 after failing to return from what relatives described as a short walk near the Snooka West Trail outside Bella Coola. Balcarras was found dead Nov. 2, and Reed was located the following day during a search involving conservation officers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Evidence at the scene led investigators to suspect a grizzly bear attack, though officials have said it remains unclear whether more than one bear was involved.
The investigation took a significant step forward when the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service captured one grizzly in the area. Officials said the animal would be cared for while investigators use forensic DNA testing and other evidence to determine whether it was involved in the fatal attack. Conservation officers have continued trapping efforts because they have not ruled out the possibility that additional bears were involved. Authorities said an unrelated captured bear would be released, while any bear confirmed to have participated in the attack would be killed under provincial public-safety guidelines.
The mother and daughter had disappeared after heading out Oct. 31, according to family accounts. Relatives became concerned when Reed missed a routine call with her sister that evening. By the next morning, family members had contacted police. Investigators found Balcarras’ vehicle at a trailhead near their home, prompting an expanded search through the surrounding area. The trail is only a short distance from Bella Coola, a small community surrounded by rugged forest and mountains where grizzly and black bears are regularly seen.
Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola and worked in the community as a counselor. Relatives described her as an artist and an experienced outdoorswoman who had previously lived in remote areas where encounters with wildlife were part of daily life. Reed, her youngest daughter, was studying online through Athabasca University and was described by relatives as close to her mother. Family members said hiking was among the interests the two shared.
British Columbia conservation officials urged residents and visitors to stay away from the Snooka West Trail area while officers conduct their investigation and trapping work. Inspector Jeff Tyre of the Conservation Officer Service has said investigators are dealing with a large grizzly population in the Bella Coola Valley and that determining which animal was responsible requires careful examination of evidence. Officials have not announced a final determination on how many bears were involved.
The deaths have also renewed concern over a separate grizzly attack in the same region on Nov. 20, 2025. In that incident, a bear attacked a group of elementary school students and adults on a trail near Bella Coola, injuring 11 people. The bear responsible was never captured, but investigators collected DNA evidence from that scene. Conservation officers said evidence from the latest case can be compared with material collected after the earlier attack to determine whether there is any connection. Officials have cautioned that no such link has been established.
The latest deaths have shaken the Nuxalk Nation and the wider Bella Coola community, which was still dealing with the effects of the 2025 attack. Community officials introduced additional safety measures, including a recommended evening curfew and transportation assistance, while conservation officers and police increased patrols. Local support services have also been made available as residents cope with another serious wildlife incident in the region.
Grizzly bears are common across parts of British Columbia, including the Bella Coola Valley. Provincial estimates put the province’s grizzly population in the thousands, but fatal encounters with people remain uncommon. Wildlife officials have not publicly identified a specific reason for the suspected attack on Balcarras and Reed, and investigators have not said whether the animals were protecting food, cubs or territory. Authorities have also warned against drawing conclusions while forensic work remains underway.
The investigation now centers on physical evidence gathered from the scene and from the captured grizzly. Conservation officers said bear sightings have continued near the area and urged the public to remain away from the trail while trapping operations continue. Officials had not announced as of Monday that DNA testing had linked the captured animal to the deaths, and the question of whether one or several bears were responsible remained unresolved.
Author note: Last updated November 9, 2026.