Four bears killed in Canada after attack on mum and daughter
A fatal attack in Bella Coola, British Columbia, led authorities to euthanize four grizzly bears—one sow with three cubs—after DNA and investigation linked them to the incident that killed a mother, Jennifer Balcarras, and her daughter, Selah Reed. The attack, described as likely predatory and very rare, prompted a large-scale response by conservation officers amid difficult terrain and weather. The case is distinguished from a separate 2025 Bella Coola school-attack that was not attributed to this bear family. Officials and Indigenous leaders stressed the incident’s impact on the community and the ongoing commitment to public safety and recovery. The outlook emphasizes continued monitoring and adherence to human-wildlife guidelines to prevent future events.
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In Bella Coola, British Columbia, a mother and her daughter were killed during an afternoon walk, triggering a formal investigation by the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS).
Forensic testing and DNA analysis concluded that a sow grizzly and her three cubs were responsible for the attack, and all four bears were euthanized under provincial human-wildlife conflict guidelines.
Conservation officials described the event as likely involving predatory behavior, noting that such predatory attacks by grizzlies are very rare.
The investigation involved more than a dozen conservation officers working through challenging terrain and weather over the past week.
The victims, Jennifer Balcarras (48) and her daughter Selah Reed (20), were described by family as closely bonded, sharing many interests and activities.
DNA testing also confirmed that the bears were not involved in a separate 2025 Bella Coola-area attack on a school group, which injured 11 people but did not result in the bear being found.
Community leaders, including the Nuxalk Nation’s elected chief, expressed appreciation for the officers’ work and emphasized the attack’s traumatic impact on residents as they continue to recover.