A 48-year-old mother and her 20-year-old daughter have lost their lives after an alleged attack by a gizzly bear in the province of British Columbia, Canada.
Victims have been identified as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter, Selah Reed, 20. They were reported missing on November 1, since they had not returned from a walk that, according to family members, would take only a few hours.
Their bodies were found in a migration zone in Bella Coola during research conducted by the Nature Conservation Officers’ Service in British Columbia and Canadian Royal Police. Authorities said evidence at the scene suggested possible involvement of an animal.
The mortar remains of Balcarra were found Monday, while those of her daughter the following day. Investigators are trying to identify and locate bears that may have been involved in the attack.
Inspector Jeff Tyre from the Nature Conservation Officers’ Service said it is still unknown whether one or more bears have been involved in the event. He added that any seized gold will be assessed and, if found to have participated in the attack, would be killed in line with provincial guidelines for managing conflicts between humans and wildlife, with the aim of protecting public safety.
Family members described Jennifer and Selah as very close to each other. Jennifer’s brother Josh Balcarras told CBC that they were two drops of water and that they had many common interests.
When Jenny went walking, Selah was always there, he said.
Jennifer had recently moved to Bella Coola, where she intended to start a new career and a new chapter in her life. Family members have launched an online campaign to raise funds for burial expenses.
Grizzly bears are considered a species of particular concern under Canadian federal legislation and are an important part of the ecosystem in British Columbia. According to data from the province’s Environment Ministry, between 10,000 and 13 thousand gizzly bears are estimated to be a vulnerable species in the region.
Authorities point out that the conflicts between bears and humans are relatively rare, except when animals are surprised or threatened during the protection of their cubs or food.
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