British Columbia wildlife officials confirmed Tuesday that four grizzly bears—a female and her three cubs—were euthanized after DNA evidence conclusively linked them to the fatal attack that killed Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, near Bella Coola on November 1.
The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) stated in a Nov. 10 announcement that forensic testing established the bears’ involvement in the attack, which occurred on the Snooka West Trail. The agency said the bears were killed in accordance with provincial guidelines to protect public safety.
Investigators determined the encounter likely involved predatory behavior, a rare occurrence in grizzly attacks, according to Insp. Jeff Tyre of the BCCOS. The women’s remains were recovered between November 2 and 3, with Selah Reed’s body found in a bear cache, where bears store food.
More than a dozen conservation officers participated in the response, which involved recovering the victims, collecting evidence, and locating the bears amid difficult terrain and weather conditions.
Official Response and Investigation Details
The BCCOS confirmed that the four bears were not involved in a separate 2025 grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola that injured 11 people, including students. That incident remains under investigation, with no bear identified as responsible.
Inspector Tyre stated in a news briefing that the agency’s findings were shared with the Nuxalk Nation, the Indigenous community affected by the attack. Samuel Schooner, Elected Chief of the Nuxalk Nation, issued a statement expressing gratitude to the conservation officers and acknowledging the trauma the community continues to experience following last year’s attack.
“This was a heartbreaking event for the families, the Nuxalk Nation and the Bella Coola community,” Tyre said. “We hope the efforts of everyone who responded, along with these findings, bring some measure of closure.”
Community and Family Reactions
Family members described Balcarras and Reed as inseparable, with Balcarras’ brother, Josh, telling CBC that the two “got along really, really well” and shared many hobbies. Selah Reed missed a scheduled call with her sister the night of November 1, prompting the search that led to the discovery of their remains.
The Nuxalk Nation has implemented voluntary curfews and escorted children to school since the attack, with Schooner noting that community support services would remain available as needed. “This attack has been deeply re-triggering for our community members as we continue to recover from last year’s attack,” Schooner said.
Next Steps and Policy Implications
The BCCOS stated that all trapping equipment used in the operation has been removed from the area, and the investigation is now considered concluded. Further analysis will examine the circumstances that led to the attack, though officials have not provided additional details on how the encounter began.
The case has raised questions about human-wildlife conflict in remote regions, particularly in areas where grizzly bears and communities coexist. Wildlife officials emphasized that predatory attacks by grizzlies are uncommon, underscoring the unusual nature of this incident.