A mother and daughter set out for an afternoon walk. Neither would make it home after a suspected grizzly bear attack ended in tragedy.
The family of 48-year-old Jennifer Balcarras and her 20-year-old daughter, Selah Reed, have now identified them as the victims of the suspected deadly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia.
Their family reported them missing on Sunday after the two failed to return from a walk along a trail just a five-minute drive from their home on Saturday afternoon.
Search teams found Balcarras dead in the Snooka West Trail area on Monday, according to the conservation officer service. The second victim was discovered on Tuesday afternoon, officers confirmed.
Josh Balcarras, Jennifer’s brother, said: “It’s surreal. It doesn’t seem real. It feels like a dream,” according to CBC.
“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 they just went for “a casual walk.”
Bear attack near Bella Coola
Balcarras had a creative side and a deep love of nature. She worked as an art therapist, and her younger brothers said she enjoyed picking up her guitar, singing, reading and painting.
“She was very much a central person in our family.”
Reed was pursuing her studies through Athabasca University’s online program while working as an education assistant. Her loved ones remembered her as “a gentle, sweet, quiet soul.”
“She liked a lot of the same things Jenny liked. I think they got along really, really well,” Josh said.
“They were two peas in a pod. When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her.”
Officers are working to locate the bears involved
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) confirmed in a statement that a team has been assigned to investigate the suspected bear attack. According to Insp. Jeff Tyre, authorities have launched an operation to trap bears in the area, although none have been caught so far.
“Officers are working to locate and capture any bears involved. It is not yet clear whether more than one bear was involved. Any captured bear will be assessed. If it is determined to have been involved in the attack, it will be dispatched in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines to protect public safety,” the BCCOS said.
“Search efforts have concluded. We continue to urge people to stay away from the Snooka West Trail area for their own safety and to give officers the space and time needed to do this work.”
Jennifer Balcarras and Selah Reed will be deeply missed by their loved ones. May they both rest in peace, and may their family find strength and comfort during this heartbreaking time.
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