A mother and daughter are dead in a suspected grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia, devastating their family, according to the victims' relatives and B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
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mother → suspect → relatives
Family members identified the victims as Jennifer Balcarras and her 20-year-old daughter, Selah Reed.
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members → identify → Balcarras
The victims were first reported missing on Nov. 1, after they failed to return from what was expected to be a short afternoon walk.
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what → report → Nov.
"The way it starts is a few hours of not hearing from them," said Josh Balcarras, Balcarras' brother, in an interview with CBS News Canadian partner CBC News.
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Balcarras → start → partner
"That turns into a day, and then a night … then a second night comes and it becomes a real thing."
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it → turn → day
Balcarras' body was discovered in the Snooka West Trail area on Monday afternoon.
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body → discover → afternoon
Reed's remains were found on Tuesday.
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remains → find → Tuesday
Agencies including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local search and rescue authorities took part in the investigation, said Jeff Tyre, an inspector with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
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Tyre → include → Service
Tyre announced the discovery of the two sets of the remains on social media.
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Tyre → announce → media
We are in contact with the family to offer any support we can as we continue to investigate this incident," Tyre said in one video.
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Tyre → offer → video
Tyre said it is not clear how many bears were involved.
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bears → say → ?
Efforts to locate and capture any involved animals are underway, he said.
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he → locate → animals
Captured bears will be assessed.
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bears → assess → ?
If it is determined to have been involved in the attack, it will be "dispatched in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines to protect public safety," Tyre said.
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Tyre → determine → safety
Tyre urged the public to avoid the Snooka West Trail area while this work is underway.
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work → urge → area
Balcarras and Reed were "two peas in a pod" who "got along really, really well" and shared many hobbies, Josh Balcarras told CBC.
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Balcarras → get → CBC
"When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her," Josh Balcarras told CBC.
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Balcarras → hike → CBC
The family has started a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs.
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family → start → costs
Balcarras had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career and start a fresh chapter in her life, according to the fundraiser.
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Balcarras → move → fundraiser
Because of the move, she did not have savings, her family wrote.
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family → have → savings
Balcarras leaves behind three young adult children and a grandchild.
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Balcarras → leave → children
Reed had "her whole life ahead of her," the family wrote, and "was only beginning her journey into adulthood."
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family → write → adulthood
The species is classified as vulnerable.
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species → classify → ?
Conflicts between grizzly bears and humans are considered "relatively rare," the ministry said, unless the animals are startled or protecting their cubs or food.
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animals → consider → cubs
A grizzly bear attacked a group of students and teachers in the Bella Coola valley in November 2025.
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bear → attack → November
Two people were critically injured, and two were seriously hurt.
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two → injure → ?
Others were treated on the scene and released, CBC News reported at the time.
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News → treat → time
The bear was described as "aggressive,"
.
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bear → describe → ?
The incident deeply shook the local community.
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incident → shake → community
One of the hikers was transported to the hospital in critical condition and died a few weeks later due to complications from the injuries.
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One → transport → injuries
The grizzly bear was later found dead, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
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bear → find → Service
A man suffered "significant injuries," including broken bones and lacerations, after being
in British Columbia's Elkford region in May 2024.
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man → suffer → May
He was able to shoot the bear to defend himself.
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He → shoot → himself
The animal was later found dead.
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animal → find → ?
The man was flown to an area hospital for treatment.
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man → fly → treatment
Authorities described the incident as a "defensive attack."
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Authorities → describe → attack
The victim was transported via helicopter to an area hospital.
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victim → transport → hospital
The Aporia
