Mother and Daughter Found Dead After Suspected Grizzly Attack Near Bella Coola

Updated 17:48 UTC, Nov 4, 2026

A mother and daughter from Bella Coola, British Columbia, have been found dead after what conservation officers are investigating as a suspected grizzly bear attack on a trail minutes from their home.

Family members identified the two women as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20. Balcarras was found dead on Monday afternoon, Nov 2, 2026, in the Snooka West Trail area, about eight kilometres east of Bella Coola on the province's Central Coast. Reed was found dead on Tuesday afternoon, Nov 3, 2026, after an extensive search by conservation officers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said evidence at the scene suggested an animal was involved. Inspector Jeff Tyre said there was evidence to suggest a bear may have been involved. Officers have not said what that evidence was, and the attack has not been confirmed as the cause of death.

The search

The pair went out on Saturday afternoon, Oct 31, 2026, for what relatives called a casual walk on a trail they knew well, about a five minute drive from home. Family reported them missing on Sunday, Nov 1, 2026, after Balcarras did not show up for a scheduled online catch up. RCMP and search and rescue crews joined the search, and the pair's vehicle was found near the trailhead.

Tyre said trapping efforts are under way and no bears had been captured as of Tuesday. "It is not yet clear whether more than one bear was involved. Any captured bear will be assessed," conservation officials said. A bear confirmed to have been involved would be dispatched under provincial human wildlife conflict guidelines to protect public safety, Tyre said.

Family and community

Balcarras, a mother of four, had moved to Bella Coola to work as an art therapist at the local school, her brother Matt Balcarras told the Vancouver Sun. Reed, her youngest child, worked as an education assistant and was studying part time through Athabasca University's online program.

Her other brother, Josh Balcarras, told CBC the walk was a routine outing for the pair. "It's surreal. It doesn't seem real. It feels like a dream," he said. He said that when his sister hiked, Reed was right there beside her.

School District 49 cancelled classes at all schools in the valley on Wednesday, Nov 4, 2026, according to CFNR. The district and the Nuxalk Nation have offered supports to students and families. Friends have set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs and to support Balcarras's surviving children.

Second attack in about a year

The deaths come less than a year after a grizzly bear attacked a school group near Bella Coola on Nov 20, 2025. Eleven people were injured in that attack, including children who were badly hurt. The bear in that case was never found. Officers have not said there is any connection between the two incidents.

Conservation officers remained in the Bella Coola area on Wednesday. The investigation is continuing, and officials have urged people to stay away from the trail area while trapping and the search for bears continue. This is a developing story and will be updated as officials confirm more facts.