Mother and daughter dead after suspected grizzly attack in Bella Coola

A mother and daughter have been killed in a suspected grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola.

According to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, two individuals were reported missing by family on Nov. 1, prompting Bella Coola RCMP and rescue crews to launch a search.

On Tuesday, the service said one of the individuals was found dead in the area of the Snooka West Trail on Monday afternoon. Evidence at the site suggested an animal was involved and conservation officers were called in. The body of the second individual was found Tuesday afternoon after search efforts by conservation officers and RCMP.

Family members have identified the victims as Jenny Balcarras, 48, and daughter Selah Reed, 19.

“Jenny was a wonderful artist, and has come to Bella Coola to work as an art therapist at the school,” Balcarras’s brother, Matt Balcarras, said Tuesday afternoon from Bella Coola. “She’s a tiny little woman but incredibly strong.”

His sister had been in contact with family on Saturday, but did not show up for an online meet-up that night, he said.

After they didn’t get a response, a relative asked RCMP to do a wellness check Sunday morning. Police found their vehicle at a trailhead.

It appeared the pair went out for a walk as the trail was “very close to their house,” said Matt Balcarras. “It’s very close to town and it’s not remote.”

Balcarras, whose body was recovered first, was a mother of four and a grandmother. She had previously worked as a school counsellor at the Bella Bella Community School before moving to Bella Coola this summer.

Reed, her youngest child, worked as an educational assistant and was going to school part-time through Athabasca University’s online learning program.

The pair had spent a lot of time living in remote coastal places, including B.C.’s central coast and Alaska, said Matt Balcarras. “They were not naive city folks. They were strong women living the life.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for funeral costs.

In a statement, the Conservation Officer Service said it is investigating the suspected attack.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the victims during this tragic time. We are in contact with the family to offer any support we can as we continue to investigate this incident,” Insp. Jeff Tyre said in an update posted online.

Tyre said officials are urging people to stay away from the Snooka West Trail and to leave the search up to conservation officers.

“We appreciate people’s concerns and the desire to assist but it is critical the public stay out of the area — both due to the danger and to allow officers to do their work,” he said.

Conservation officers remained in the area on Tuesday to search for and trap any bears. Those that are caught will be assessed to determine if it is responsible for the death and, if so, the bear will be killed by the conservation service.