Mother and Daughter Killed in Suspected Grizzly Bear Attack in British Columbia
A mother and daughter died in a suspected grizzly bear attack on a hiking trail near Bella Coola, British Columbia, according to Fox News. Conservation officers, the provincial wildlife officers responsible for managing animals in the region, are hunting for the bear involved.
The victims were identified as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter, Selah Reed, 20. Fox News reported both names. Fox Weather said Balcarras worked as an art therapist, a form of counselling that uses creative activities such as painting and drawing.
The pair were reported missing on Saturday after leaving on a walk, according to Fox Weather. Their bodies were later found 150 metres apart from each other, CBC News reported.
The attack is described as suspected, and the bear has not yet been found. In the wake of the deaths, a curfew has been suggested and night patrols have been put in place near Bella Coola, CBC reported.
Bella Coola is a small community on British Columbia's central coast. Grizzly bears, large brown bears found across western Canada, are the species at the centre of the investigation, and the wildlife response is ongoing.
