‘Multiple’ Grizzly Bears May Have Mauled Mom, 48, and Her 20-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead in Woods, Authorities Say
‘Multiple’ Grizzly Bears May Have Mauled Mom, 48, and Her 20-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead in Woods, Authorities Say
Gina KalsiThu, November 5, 2026 at 1:29 PM UTC
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Selah Reed and Jennifer BalcarrasCredit: GoFundMe -
The two victims of a grizzly bear attack were named by their family as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter, Selah Reed, 20
They were reported missing on Sunday, Nov. 1, after going for a walk on Snooka West Trail in British Columbia, and their bodies were subsequently recovered on Monday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday, Nov. 3
Officials now say it is unclear whether multiple grizzly bears were involved in the attack and have set traps
Multiple grizzly bears may have attacked and mauled a mother and her 20-year-old daughter while they were walking in Canada, authorities have said.
The two victims, who were named by their family as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, were reported missing by their loved ones on Sunday, Nov. 1, according to the CBC and a Facebook statement by Canada’s Conservation Service.
A body was found on the Snooka West Trail near Bella Coola in British Columbia on Monday, Nov. 2, before another was recovered a day later on Tuesday, Nov. 3, after officers carried out search efforts, per an statement.
Bella Coola in British ColumbiaCredit: Getty
Conservation officials are working to determine whether multiple grizzly bears were involved in the attack. “It is not yet clear whether more than one bear was involved,” Inspector Jeff Tyre said in a video message on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
“Any captured bears will be assessed. 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,” he added.
In a Wednesday evening press conference, Tyre said there are “numerous grizzly bears that live in the Bella Coola Valley,” before confirming that they had received reports of sightings in the area.
He said officers are still working to try and capture the animal involved in the attack and added that no grizzly bears were caught in the traps overnight.
“We understand a fatal grizzly bear attack can generate many questions and concerns in the communities and beyond,” Tyre added. “I can assure you, a thorough investigation is being conducted to try and find answers as to what may have led to the attack.”
A grizzly bear in British ColumbiaCredit: Getty
Tyre also confirmed that the two bodies were found 492 feet away from each other.
When asked by a journalist why it took a while to locate the second body, he responded, “I can’t get into too many details of the investigation, and out of respect for the family, I’m going to decline to put any more details to that question at this time.”
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Josh Balcarras, Jennifer’s brother, told the CBC that his sister and niece were familiar with the trail, which he described as a “casual walk.”
Balcarras, who was an art therapist in Bella Coola, had four children, of whom Reed was her youngest. She is survived by three young adult children, a son and two daughters, as well as a grandchild, according to a GoFundMe page, which was set up by their loved ones.
The mom had recently moved to the area to “pursue a new career and begin a new chapter in her life,” the fundraiser stated.
“She was working toward building a future and had not yet had the opportunity to establish savings or put aside funds to help her family with unexpected expenses such as these,” it stated. “Tragically, no one could have anticipated that her family would be faced with such an unimaginable loss.”
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Reed was described by her family as a “gentle, sweet, quiet soul” who was currently studying through Athabasca University’s online learning program, per the CBC.
“Selah was just 20 years old, with her whole life ahead of her. She was only beginning her journey into adulthood, making this loss even more heartbreaking,” it added.
The page has since raised over $25,000, which will be used to help “navigate the unexpected financial burden of arranging funeral services and covering the associated expenses for both Jenny and Selah.”
Canada’s Conservation Officer Service did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
