Grizzly Bear Hunt Launched After Mother and Daughter Found Dead in British Columbia

POLICY WIRE — Bella Coola, Canada — Authorities in coastal British Columbia are launching an intensive search for a grizzly bear involved in the fatal attack on a mother and her adult daughter.

The tragedy came to light after family members noticed 20-year-old Selah Reed failed to answer a scheduled phone call with her sister on Saturday night. When no communication came from Reed or her mother, 48-year-old Jenny Balcarras, by Sunday morning, relatives requested the Royal Canadian Mounted Police check on their residence.

Upon arrival, officers found Balcarras’s vehicle missing but the home remained locked. The car was eventually located at a trailhead further down the road, though the two women were missing.

Family members from across Canada and the United States began traveling to the area immediately. Matt Balcarras made the trip north from Vancouver Island while another brother traveled from Calgary. They drove through the night, only to receive a devastating call late Monday confirming their sister had been killed, likely by a grizzly bear.

By the time the family reached the trailhead on Tuesday morning to assist search, Reed’s remains had been discovered, turning the mission into a somber recovery operation.

The fatal incident occurred just 1.8 to 2.4 kilometers from a site where a grizzly attacked a group of teachers and students on November 20, 2025. That previous assault resulted in 11 injuries, with two victims in critical condition.

Jeff Tyre, an inspector with the Conservation Officer Service, noted that while the aggressive bear from last year was never caught, DNA was collected. Officials are now deploying new traps to capture the animal and determine if it is the same individual responsible for the recent deaths.

Investigators are also uncertain if more than one bear may have been involved in the attack. Terry Webber, chief administrative officer for the Nuxalk Nation, expressed that the killings are deeply traumatizing for a community already suffering from the previous year’s violence.

Webber stated the community is still in the process of healing and has implemented a curfew alongside providing mental health support. He emphasized that the primary focus remains the safety and support of the community.

The search for the victims was hindered by rugged terrain and the bear’s specific behavior, despite the proximity to the trailhead. Matt Balcarras noted that searchers found his mother first, aided by a cadaver dog and additional resources.

Selah Reed’s remains were located in a bear cache—a spot where bears hide food under debris. Matt Balcarras explained that finding remains in such a cache is extremely difficult even when 100 meters away.

Due to the conditions, Reed could only be identified by her clothing, while his sister was recognized via small tattoos. Matt Balcarras confirmed that while the coroner will use DNA and dental records for formal identification, there is no doubt the remains are theirs.

Conservation officials noted grizzlies are common in the Bella Coola area, though Tyre mentioned no recent reports of ‘problem bears’ had been made to their hotline.

Balcarras, who worked as an art therapist, had moved to the region this past summer after living in Alaska, the place where her children were born. Her brother described her as the family’s strong organizer who built a successful life for her children through grit and independence.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)