Four bears involved in fatal Bella Coola attack, officials say

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says four bears were involved in the deadly attack in Bella Coola last week in which a mother and her daughter were killed.

Insp. Jeff Tyre with the BC Conservation Officer Service said at an update on Tuesday that evidence from the investigation, as well as animal DNA, was analyzed and conclusively linked to a sow and its three offspring.

"After considering all the evidence and in accordance with provincial human wildlife conflict response guidelines, these bears have been dispatched to protect the public," Tyre said.

Tyre also said this attack "likely involved predatory behaviour," which is very rare.

One person’s remains were found in the Snooka West Trail area last Monday. The second person’s remains were found on Tuesday afternoon during search efforts by conservation officers and the RCMP.

A GoFundMe page identified the victims as Jenny Balcarras and her daughter, Selah Reed. A family member started the fundraiser and said Balcarras recently moved to Bella Coola to start a new career and begin a new chapter in her life.

The Globe and Mail identified the victims as art therapist Jenny Balcarras and her adult daughter, Selah Reed, and said their bodies were found last week about 150 metres apart after they were reported missing. The Globe and Mail said Selah Reed was 19 years old.

Tyre said the four bears were not involved in the 2025 attack in the same area, which involved school children.

Local authorities imposed a voluntary curfew last week and police had been escorting children to school, according to The Globe and Mail.

Sources

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