Authorities in British Columbia are searching for a grizzly bear after it killed a mother and her daughter near Bella Coola. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were alerted when Selah Reed, 20, and her mother, Jenny Balcarras, 48, missed a routine call with family. Their car was found at a trailhead, but the women were missing.
Family members located Reed's remains, which had been stashed in a bear cache, and subsequently confirmed her mother's death. The discovery occurred approximately 3 to 4 kilometers from a location where a grizzly bear attacked a group of schoolchildren and teachers last year, injuring eleven people. Officials are attempting to capture the bear involved in the recent attack to determine if it is the same animal from the previous incident and to collect DNA evidence.
The remote and difficult terrain complicated the search and recovery efforts. The Nuxalk Nation has imposed a curfew and is providing mental health services to the community, which is still recovering from the trauma of last year's attack. Officials have stated that grizzly bears are common in the area, and no recent problem bear reports had been filed.
Balcarras, an art therapist, had moved to Bella Coola during the summer and was described by her brother as a strong, capable individual comfortable living among wildlife. Both she and her daughter were reportedly experienced in living in such environments.