Conservation officers in British Columbia have killed four grizzly bears, a female and three yearling cubs, after DNA evidence linked them to a fatal attack on a mother and daughter near Bella Coola, a community about 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver. The bears were killed for public safety, and officials say they cannot be rehabilitated or relocated.
The victims, Jenny Balcarras and her daughter Selah Reed, were reported missing on November 1. Their remains were later found on trails outside the northern B.C. community, about 150 metres apart. Investigators have said the attack was likely predatory, but the cause of the attack and what may have triggered it remain unknown.
Bella Coola is a small community on the central coast, and the deaths have shaken residents. The Nuxalk Nation, whose territory includes the area, said its community is deeply affected and expressed support for the families. Its leadership also thanked conservation officers for bringing the situation to a resolution.
In response to the danger, a voluntary curfew was put in place, and police escorted children to school. Residents have been urged to secure attractants such as garbage and food sources and to stay close to children when outdoors. Officials have stressed that people should avoid trails and areas where bears may be active until the risk is fully assessed.
The case has also drawn attention to earlier incidents in the same area. In 2025, an adult and three children were injured in an attack near the local school. DNA tests from that case ruled out the bears now killed, meaning the animals involved in the latest deaths were not those responsible for the earlier injuries.
The Grizzly Bear Foundation has called for community co-existence programs that teach residents how to live safely alongside bears. The organization noted that the fall period before hibernation is a riskier time, as bears feed intensively and may travel more widely in search of food. The B.C. government paused its Bear Smart program last year, a decision the foundation has criticized as leaving communities with fewer tools to prevent conflicts.
It is not yet clear how the incoming provincial government will approach bear safety, including whether Bear Smart or similar programs will be restored. For now, residents of Bella Coola are being asked to remain cautious while investigators continue to examine the circumstances of the attack.
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