Posted on 11/03/2026 4:04:12 PM PST by jerod
B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it's investigating, traps have been set out
Family members have identified the two victims of a suspected fatal grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, B.C., as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 19.
Balcarras's remains were discovered Monday in the Snooka West Trail area, the conservation officer service says.
Family reported them missing on Sunday after they didn't return from a walk on the trail — described as a roughly five-minute drive from their home — on Saturday afternoon.
"It's surreal. It doesn't seem real. It feels like a dream," said Josh Balcarras, Jennifer's brother.
"The way it starts is a few hours of not hearing from them. That turns into a day, and then a night … then a second night comes and it becomes a real thing."
He said the pair was familiar with the trail, which he said is "not in a remote area."
"Just a casual walk," he said.
Balcarras worked as an art therapist in Bella Coola. Her younger brothers remember her as a book lover with a passion for playing guitar, singing, painting and the outdoors. She had four children, Selah her youngest.
"She painted murals in her own kids' home … my home," said her brother Matthew.
"She was very much a central person in our family."
The search for Reed continues but it is presumed she did not survive the attack, Matthew told CBC News. Family describe her as " a gentle, sweet, quiet soul" with a love of ballet, art and hiking.
"She liked a lot of the same things Jenny liked. I think they got along really, really well," said Josh.
"They were two peas in a pod. When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her."
BCCOS searching for bear
Tyre said trapping efforts are underway but no bears have been captured.
The BCCOS said any captured bears would be assessed to determine next steps.
"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," it said in a post on social media.
Last year, a group of children and teachers were attacked by a grizzly near Bella Coola, leaving several critically injured on a trail south of Highway 20....
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You should always be armed and ready.
Canada doesn’t allow personal firearms for self defense or protection. I think they would prosecute anyone who would kill a bear to prevent themselves from being attacked. The Canadian government is on the side of the bear.
In BC you would probably get life in prison for shooting a Grizzly, so might as well let it kill you I guess.
If I had to pack a sidearm for dangerous animals right now, I'd go with my 10mm (having sold my .50 AE about 15 years ago)...but just last week S&W announced the relaunch of the M1917 in .45 ACP and the M22 which can go .45 ACP and .45 Colt.
I want one.
Yes. But this was in Canada. Handguns for bear defense are prohibited and firearms in general are discouraged. Maybe they had bear spray and bells.
But It’s CANADUH !?!
.
RIP Young ladies
Some say there may be some mountain lions moving back in but the state wildlife gurus say that’s not true.
........
They lie.
For the past 25 years 5hey have lied about predatory wildlife here.
Only evil people ban self-defense.
All handguns ar now prohibited weapons
The only civillians allowed Permits to Carry are insider elites and their asshole cronies
Such is what I hear from Canada.
In theory, if you work in the woods professionally, you can obtain a permit to carry a handgun in the woods for protection against wild animals.
The powers that be have made the obtaining of a permit so difficult almost no one is willing to go through all the hoops required to obtain one.
Most of the people with the money and the time do not work professionally in the woods. There are exceptions - Geologists, maybe wildlife photographers...
If you are independently wealthy and are willing to spend a couple of thousand dollars and a couple of weeks in order to obtain a permit, there is a strong chance you could obtain one.
Why is it that when I type "civillians" in the reply box, it comes up with a red line under it, meaning that it is misspelled and needs to be corrected?
But yet you post it without giving it a thought. Is your spell correction not working, or are you just ignoring it?
I don't get it
If I saddled a horse and rode directly south from my ranch, after a lot of wilderness I’d come across Bella Coola. I am always ready for bears and such and I will win every time. Don’t listen to the media. Majority of us have ignored nonsense from Ottawa for a long time.
My ranch is in BC, I’m still waiting to become a state, but a free man doesn’t permission to arm themselves.
Hear, hear!
I’m on a mac and i try to turn that stuff off
Handguns are restricted firearms and are generally prohibited for recreational carry. An Authorization to Carry (ATC) is required and is rarely issued—mainly for specific occupational wilderness work (e.g., certain trappers, guides, or researchers) where protection from wild animals is needed.
And the ones that ban it for everyone, are exempt, and have paid-for armed protection for them and their families.
Ping!.....
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