A Canadian family is mourning the deaths of a mother and her 20-year-old daughter after the pair were found dead following a suspected grizzly bear attack on a hiking trail in Bella Coola, British Columbia.
Jennifer Balcarras, 48, was discovered dead on the Snooka West Trail on Monday, with initial evidence indicating that she had been attacked by a bear, according to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS).
Her daughter, Selah Reed, 20, was found dead on Tuesday afternoon after conservation officers and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) conducted an extensive search of the area.
Family Reported Them Missing After Losing Contact
Relatives last spoke with Balcarras on Saturday but became worried when she failed to attend an online meeting scheduled for that evening.
Her brother, Matthew, told the Vancouver Sun that the family initially attempted to contact her but received no response.
They subsequently requested an RCMP wellness check on Sunday morning.
Police officers later located Balcarras’ vehicle at a trailhead near the Snooka West Trail.
Speaking to CBC, her other brother, Josh Balcarras, described the family’s experience as difficult to comprehend.
“It’s surreal. It doesn’t seem real. It feels like a dream,” he said.
He explained that the family’s initial concern over a few hours without communication gradually developed into anxiety as an entire day and night passed without hearing from the mother and daughter.
Mother and Daughter Were Familiar With the Hiking Trail
According to Josh, Balcarras and Reed regularly enjoyed outdoor activities and were familiar with the Snooka West Trail, which is approximately five minutes by car from their home.
He stressed that the location was not particularly remote and described their outing as an ordinary walk.
“It was just a casual walk,” he said.
Josh also recalled the close relationship between the two women, describing them as inseparable.
“They were two peas in a pod,” he said, adding that whenever his sister went hiking, Reed would accompany her.
Family Remembers Balcarras as Artist and Mother of Four
Balcarras, who worked as an art therapist, was remembered by her brothers as someone who enjoyed reading, playing the guitar, singing, painting and spending time outdoors.
She was a mother of four children and a grandmother, with Reed being her youngest daughter.
Her brother Matthew described her as an important figure within their family, recalling how she painted murals in the homes of her children and relatives.
“She painted murals in her own kids’ home, my home,” he said. “She was very much a central person in our family.”
A GoFundMe campaign established to support funeral expenses revealed that Balcarras had recently relocated to Bella Coola to begin a new career and start another chapter of her life.
The fundraiser explained that she had been working towards establishing her future but had not yet accumulated savings to cover unexpected expenses.
It described her death as an unimaginable loss that the family could not have anticipated.
Reed Was Building Her Future at 20
The fundraising appeal also paid tribute to Reed, describing her as a young woman who had barely begun her adult life.
She had previously worked as an educational assistant and was pursuing further studies through Athabasca University‘s online learning programme.
The family remembered her as a gentle, quiet and sweet person who enjoyed ballet, art and hiking.
Josh said his niece shared many of her mother’s interests, which contributed to their close relationship.
He described the pair as exceptionally close, noting that they frequently spent time together pursuing activities they both enjoyed.
Conservation Officers Investigate Suspected Bear Attack
The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service confirmed that an investigation into the suspected bear attack is underway.
In an online video statement, Inspector Jeff Tyre expressed condolences to the families of the two victims.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this tragic time,” he said.
Authorities have commenced trapping operations in the area, although no bears had been captured at the time of the statement.
BCCOS said officers would assess the situation and determine the appropriate response if any bears were captured.
Tyre explained that any animal identified as responsible for the attack would be killed in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines.
“If the bear is determined to be the bear responsible for the attack, it will be dispatched to ensure public safety, as per provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines,” he said.
Public Warned to Stay Away From Trail
Conservation officers have urged members of the public to avoid the Snooka West Trail while the investigation and trapping operations continue.
Authorities also asked residents not to enter the area or attempt to assist with the search, stressing that doing so could expose them to danger and interfere with the officers’ work.
“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,” Tyre said.
The investigation into the deaths of Balcarras and Reed remains ongoing.
