“THEY WERE JUST GOING FOR A WALK” — MOM, 48, AND HER 20-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD AFTER SUSPECTED GRIZZLY BEAR ATTACK IN CANADA

A mother and her 20-year-old daughter have been found dead after disappearing during what was described as a casual walk along a wooded trail in British Columbia, Canada.

Now, investigators are trying to determine whether one or multiple grizzly bears were involved in the suspected fatal attack — as the tᩚraɢedy leaves a close-knit community in shock.

The victims were identified by their family as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her youngest daughter, Selah Reed, 20.

Their bodies were discovered several days after relatives reported them missing, and wildlife officers are now working to locate the bear or bears believed to have been involved.

A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DISAPPEARED DURING A WALK

Jennifer and Selah were reported missing on Sunday, November 1, after heading out near the Snooka West Trail, close to Bella Coola, a remote community on British Columbia’s central coast.

According to Jennifer’s brother, Josh Balcarras, the pair were familiar with the trail. He described their outing as a “casual walk,” suggesting it was an ordinary trip through an area they knew.

But when the two failed to return, concern grew among their loved ones.

Search efforts eventually led to the discovery of the first body on Monday, November 2.

A second body was located the following afternoon, Tuesday, November 3, after further searches by police and conservation officers.

Authorities said the two bodies were found approximately 492 feet apart.

The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service described the incident as a suspected fatal grizzly bear attack and urged members of the public to stay away from the area.

COULD MULTIPLE GRIZZLY BEARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?

As investigators worked to establish what happened, a troubling possibility emerged: more than one bear may have been involved.

On Wednesday, November 4, Conservation Officer Service Inspector Jeff Tyre addressed the situation in a public video message.

“It is not yet clear whether more than one bear was involved,” he explained.

During a later news conference, Tyre confirmed that numerous grizzly bears live in the Bella Coola Valley and that officials had received reports of bear sightings in the surrounding area.

Wildlife officers have been working to capture and assess bears that could be connected to the incident.

Tyre said any captured animal would be examined. If authorities determine that a bear was involved in the attack, it will be dealt with under provincial human-wildlife conflict guidelines to protect public safety.

Officials also confirmed that no grizzly bears had been caught in the traps overnight as the search continued.

Tyre acknowledged that the incident had raised serious concerns among residents and promised a thorough investigation to establish what may have led to the tᩚraɢedy.

He declined to provide further details about why the second body was located a day after the first, citing respect for the family and the ongoing investigation.

JENNIFER HAD JUST BEGUN A NEW CHAPTER

Beyond the investigation, the loss has devastated a family now facing the unimaginable task of saying goodbye to two loved ones.

Jennifer had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career and begin a fresh chapter in her life.

She worked as an art therapist and had joined the local school community as a counselor in August.

The Central Coast Teachers’ Association remembered her as someone who devoted countless hours to connecting with students and supporting their well-being.

Her brother, Matthew Balcarras, also spoke lovingly about the woman he had lost.

He described Jennifer as incredibly strong, explaining that she had lived in several challenging and remote places, including Alaska, before moving to British Columbia.

“She was a beautiful artist and was an inspiration for me and my brothers,” he said.

Jennifer leaves behind three young adult children — a son and two daughters — as well as a grandchild.

For them, the loss is not only the sudden absence of a mother and grandmother, but also the loss of someone who had only recently begun building a new future.

SELAH WAS ONLY 20 AND HAD HER WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF HER

Selah Reed was Jennifer’s youngest child.

At just 20 years old, she was beginning her adult life and studying through Athabasca University’s online learning program.

Her family remembered her as a “gentle, sweet, quiet soul.”

A fundraising page created by loved ones described the young woman as someone whose future had only just begun.

“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,” the fundraiser stated.

The campaign was established to help cover funeral arrangements and the unexpected expenses facing the family after losing both Jennifer and Selah.

It had raised more than $25,000 by the time of PEOPLE’s report.

A COMMUNITY STILL REMEMBERING ANOTHER BEAR INCIDENT

The tᩚraɢedy has also brought renewed concern to Bella Coola, an area known for its large populations of grizzly and black bears.

The latest incident comes almost a year after another serious grizzly bear attack in the same region.

In November 2025, a group of elementary school students and teachers were attacked while near a walking trail. One adult and three children were seriously injured.

Despite an extensive search, the bear involved in that incident was never captured.

Bear safety expert Kim Titchener said she was deeply concerned when she first heard reports that Jennifer and Selah were missing in the area.

Bella Coola residents are familiar with living alongside wildlife, and sightings of bears near homes are not unusual.

Experts have also raised broader concerns about increasing human-wildlife conflicts, pointing to factors such as habitat loss, drought and changing food availability.

However, investigators have not established whether any environmental factors played a role in this particular incident.

OFFICIALS URGE THE PUBLIC TO STAY AWAY

Authorities have urged residents and visitors to avoid the Snooka West Trail area while conservation officers continue their work.

A curfew has also been imposed in the community as officials respond to the incident and search for the animal or animals potentially involved.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not confirmed whether one bear or several were responsible.

For Jennifer’s family, however, the questions surrounding the incident cannot change the devastating reality of their loss.

A mother who had recently moved to build a new future and her youngest daughter, who was only beginning adulthood, are now being mourned together.

What began as an ordinary walk along a familiar trail has ended in a tᩚraɢedy that has shaken an entire community — and left a family facing a loss no one could have anticipated.