Canadian wildlife officials say four grizzly bears were responsible for killing a mother and her adult daughter near Bella Coola, B.C., in a rare predatory attack.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Canadian wildlife officials say four grizzly bears captured in western Canada were responsible for killing a mother and her adult daughter earlier this month in what investigators believe was a rare predatory attack.
Forensic testing confirmed an adult sow and three cubs were involved in the attack that killed Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. All four bears were killed to protect the public.
"Our investigation also found that this attack likely involved predatory behavior, which I can tell you is very rare," Inspector Jeff Tyre told an online briefing.
"That is to say, we don’t know how it started, but we know how it ended."
The women’s remains were found about 150 meters (490 feet) apart near a trail outside Bella Coola, a remote community about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) north of Vancouver. Family members raised the alarm after Reed missed a routine Saturday night call with her sister. Searchers found her mother’s remains first, then discovered Reed’s remains in a bear cache, where bears store food.
The latest killings have shaken the Nuxalk Nation community, which is still recovering from last year’s attack. Local authorities imposed a voluntary curfew, and police escorted children to school.
"This attack has been deeply re-triggering for our community members as we continue to recover from last year’s attack," said Tlhmtimut Samuel Schooner, the Nuxalk Nation’s elected chief councilor.
He said community support services would remain available as long as needed.
Tyre said the bears were not involved in a separate grizzly attack last November on a group of about 20 elementary school students and teachers in the same area. Eleven people were injured, including two critically.
The incident marks a rare predatory bear attack in British Columbia and has deeply affected the Nuxalk Nation community, which is still recovering from a separate grizzly attack on students and teachers in the same area last November.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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