Conservation officer says multiple bears may be behind B.C. attack that killed two

On November 3, 2026, a suspected grizzly bear attack occurred near Bella Coola, British Columbia, resulting in one person dead and another missing. The remains of Jennifer Balcarras were discovered on the Snooka West Trail area, while her daughter Selah Reed, aged 20, is still unaccounted for. Authorities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Search and Rescue teams responded to the scene where evidence suggested a bear attack may have been involved.

The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service confirmed that both victims are believed to be dead after their remains were found on November 3, following reports they went missing since Sunday, November 1. Inspectors like Jeff Tyre from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service suspect multiple grizzly bears might have been responsible for this attack based on the severity of injuries sustained by the victims.

In response to these incidents and a similar attack last year that injured eleven people including schoolchildren, local authorities are implementing measures such as night patrols and suggested curfews around Bella Coola until further notice. The Nuxalk Nation has also offered additional safety measures like free fruit tree gleaning and shuttle buses to assist in the ongoing efforts to manage wildlife conflicts in the region.