A mother and her daughter were killed in a grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia, with investigators considering the possibility that multiple bears were involved.
Jenny Balcarras, 48, and her daughter, Selah Reed, 20, were reported missing on Sunday. Balcarras' remains were found on Monday, and a second body, identified as Reed's, was discovered Tuesday by a search team including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and conservation officers.
Conservation officer Insp. Jeff Tyre told CTV News that investigators have not ruled out the possibility of multiple grizzly bears being responsible for the attack. He added that any bears captured in the vicinity would be assessed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The family has been devastated by the deaths. A GoFundMe campaign established by a relative described Selah Reed as a young woman with "her whole life ahead of her." Jenny Balcarras, an art therapist, had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career. She leaves behind three other young adult children and a grandchild.
The fundraiser noted that the surviving family members are facing the emotional and financial burden of arranging two funerals. As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had raised over $33,000 CAD toward its $35,000 goal.
This incident follows a similar bear attack in the same region nearly a year ago, when a grizzly bear ambushed a group of elementary school students and teachers. That attack left one adult and three children with serious injuries. At the time, conservation officers described the bear's behavior as "aggressive and unlike any other documented grizzly bear attack" they had seen in British Columbia or Canada.