MOTHER AND DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD AFTER SUSPECTED GRIZZLY BEAR ATTACK — FAMILY SHARES HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE

Jenny Balcarras, 48, and her youngest daughter, Selah Reed, were found days after they went missing during a walk near their home in Bella Coola, British Columbia. Authorities are investigating the deaths as a suspected bear attack.

A mother and her daughter have been found dead following a suspected grizzly bear encounter in British Columbia, leaving their family and the close-knit community of Bella Coola devastated.

Jenny Balcarras, 48, and her youngest daughter, Selah Reed, were reported missing on Sunday, November 1, after relatives became concerned when they could no longer reach them.

The two women had reportedly gone for a walk on Saturday afternoon. When family members discovered that they had not returned or made contact, a search began.

Their vehicle was later found parked near the Snooka West Trail, directing search efforts toward the surrounding area.

Jenny’s body was discovered on Monday, November 2. Selah was found the following day, Tuesday, November 3.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is investigating the deaths as a suspected bear attack. Officials have not yet confirmed which animal was involved.

A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO LOVED THE OUTDOORS

For Jenny and Selah’s family, the tᩚraɢedy is especially painful because the two shared a close bond and regularly spent time together outdoors.

The trail was reportedly familiar to them and only a short drive from their home.

Jenny was a mother of four and a grandmother who had recently moved to Bella Coola to work as an art therapist at a local school.

Loved ones remembered her as a talented artist and a compassionate, strong woman who found happiness in painting, music, reading and connecting with others.

Her youngest daughter, Selah, worked as an educational assistant while also attending school part-time.

She was described as gentle and creative, with a love of ballet, art and hiking.

Their shared interests and love of nature made their regular walks together a meaningful part of their lives.

Now, the family is left grieving two women whose lives were closely intertwined.

COMMUNITY REMEMBERS ANOTHER BEAR ATTACK

The deaths have renewed concern about wildlife encounters in Bella Coola, where a serious bear incident occurred just one year earlier.

In November 2025, a grizzly bear attacked a group of elementary schoolchildren and teachers during an outdoor school outing.

Eleven people were injured. Three children and one teacher sustained serious injuries, while seven others received treatment at the scene.

Despite an extensive search, authorities were unable to identify the bear responsible for that attack.

The latest incident has brought those memories back for residents, many of whom are now facing renewed anxiety about safety on local trails.

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE SUSPECTED BEAR ATTACK

Conservation officers are searching the area around Snooka West Trail and working to establish exactly what happened to Jenny and Selah.

Investigators are examining whether a grizzly bear was responsible for the fatal encounter.

Authorities have indicated that if a bear is captured and confirmed to have been involved in the deaths, it will be euthanized.

In the meantime, residents and visitors have been warned to stay away from Snooka West Trail while the investigation continues.

TWO LIVES, ONE FAMILY’S UNIMAGINABLE LOSS

Jenny and Selah had set out for what was reportedly a familiar walk close to home.

They were a mother and daughter who shared a love of art, nature and spending time together. Their disappearance quickly became a family’s desperate search for answers — one that ended in heartbreaking circumstances.

As the investigation continues, their loved ones are left remembering not the tᩚraɢedy that took them, but the lives they lived and the bond they shared.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain under investigation, and authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the animal responsible.