Brother says B.C. bear attack victim an ‘inspiration,’ as community imposes curfew

The brother of a woman who was killed along with her daughter in a suspected grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola, B.C., says she was “remarkable” and an inspiration to her siblings.

Matthew Balcarras said on Wednesday that Jenny Balcarras was “incredibly strong” and had lived in many difficult, remote places, including Alaska, before moving to Bella Coola on B.C.’s central coast a few months ago.

Conservation officers said the remains of two people were found near a set of trails this week, after Jenny Balcarras and her daughter, Selah Reed, 20, were reported missing by relatives over the weekend.

Authorities have imposed a curfew on the community, about 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver, as the search for the animal or animals behind the attack continues.

“She was a beautiful artist and was an inspiration for me and my brothers,” said Matthew Balcarras said of his sister, adding that they came from a family of six.

He said he asked police to perform a wellness check at his sister’s Bella Coola home on the weekend and there was no sign of her or her vehicle, which police later located at a trailhead.

Balcarras said he later met with police and conservation officers at the local RCMP detachment and was told what had likely happened.

“You hear somebody say words that you don’t normally hear and a lot of vivid pictures come to mind. So, what comes to mind is incoherent noise, like being overwhelmed,” said Balcarras. 

The deaths come nearly a year after a grizzly attack on a group of 20 elementary school students and teachers near the same set of trails, which left one adult and three children badly hurt.

The animal involved in that attack last November was never captured.

Insp. Jeff Tyre with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said on Wednesday that bear DNA from last year’s attack site would be compared with samples gathered in the wake of the latest attack.

“As we collect bear (DNA), capture bears, we will send that DNA off to the lab and hopefully get a match,” said Tyre in a virtual news conference.

But he added that there was a “very large” bear population in the area, and it was too early to speculate if both attacks involved the same animal.

Tyre said no bears were captured in traps set overnight, and it wasn’t yet clear if more than one bear was involved in the most recent attack.

“There are numerous grizzly bears that live in the Bella Coola Valley, and we have received reports of sightings in the area. Any bears that we capture will be assessed,” said Tyre. 

If the “offending bear” is captured it will be killed to protect public safety, added Tyre. 

Tyre said the remains of the mother and daughter were found about 150 metres apart on Monday and Tuesday, but declined to provide details about how the tragedy might have unfolded “out of respect for the family.”

Terry Webber, chief administrative officer of the Nuxalk Nation, said the community was still healing from last year’s attack and the new tragedy made the wounds more difficult to heal.

“Our community members are retriggered, and our priority is to continue to ensure they’re safe,” said Webber. 

Webber said an 8 p.m. curfew was in place and residents were being provided transport to ensure safety.

Balcarras said his older sister had built a new career in mid-life as an art therapist and moved to Bella Coola only a few months ago. She worked at the local school. 

“She had previously done similar work in Bella Bella, and she cares deeply about working with kids in art therapy,” said Balcarras. 

The Central Coast Teachers’ Association said on social media that Balcarras had joined their school community as a counsellor in August, and she devoted “countless hours to connecting with the students she served and worked closely with teachers and other staff supporting their well-being.”

“Her time among us was far too brief, but her kindness, dedication, and care have left a lasting impression on our school community. She will be deeply missed,” said the release.

A fundraiser set up by relative Mary Melissa Smith said Reed had “her whole life ahead of her,” while Jenny Belcarras left behind three young adult children, as well as a grandchild. 

Smith said in the post that Balcarras had moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career and start a new chapter in her life. No one could have anticipated “such an unimaginable loss,” she said.

Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety in education based in Calgary, said she was concerned when she saw reports about the missing women on Facebook hiking groups. 

“When I saw that they were missing, and in the area that they were missing, my heart just dropped because I just kind of knew this could be a bear attack,” said Titchener. 

“This community and area have suffered so much last year,” she said.

Titchener said she had several daycares and school groups calling her for bear safety training following last year’s attack. 

Bella Coola is well-known for its large population of grizzly and black bears, and Titchener said it was common for people in Bella Coola to see bears walking near their homes. 

Titchener said there have “concerning pressures” on bear populations in B.C. due to the loss of habitat, food stress caused by drought and climate change, setting off more conflicts with people. 

“I don’t know if Bella Coola suffered from any drought issues, but certainly other parts of the province of B.C. did.”

The conservation service has asked residents to stay away from the west trail area of the Snooka trail system where the attack happened. 

“We understand a fatal grizzly bear attack can generate many questions and concerns in the communities and beyond. I can assure you, a thorough investigation is being conducted to try and find answers as to what may have led to the attack,” said Tyre. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2026.