Several grizzly bears may have been involved in an attack on a hiker, which relatives say led to the death of a mother and her daughter in Bella Coola, in Canada's British Columbia province, a representative of the Conservation Officer Service said. Inspector Jeff Tyre announced in a video message that the second body was found in a search conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and conservation officers Tuesday afternoon, following the discovery of the first set of remains the day before. [1]
He said it is 'not yet clear if more than one bear was involved,' and any bears caught in the area will be assessed. Members of artist Terry Balcarras's family and her daughter, Selah Reed, reported that they went missing on Sunday. Balcarras's brother, Matthew Balcarras, said Wednesday that his sister was 'incredibly strong' and had lived in many difficult and remote locations, including Alaska, before moving to Bella Coola on the central BC coast a few months ago. [1]
'She was a beautiful artist and was an inspiration to me and my brothers,' Matthew Balcarras said about his sister. Authorities have implemented a quarantine in the community, located approximately 1,000 kilometers north of Vancouver, as the search continues for the animal or animals behind the attack. If the 'aggressive bear' is captured, it will be killed to protect public safety, Tyre said. [1]
A fundraising fund established by relative Mary Melissa Smith stated that Reed was 20 years old, 'with her whole life ahead of her,' while Balcarras leaves behind three adult children as well as a grandchild. Balcarras leaves behind a son, two daughters, and a grandchild who are now 'dealing with the devastating loss of their mother,' while navigating the financial burden of arranging funeral services, Smith said. [1]
The Central Coast Teachers Association stated on social media that Balcarras joined their school community as a counselor in August and dedicated 'countless hours connecting with the students she served and working closely with teachers and others supporting their well-being.' The attack comes nearly a year after a grizzly bear attack on a group of 20 high school students and teachers in the same area, which left one adult and three children severely injured. [1]
The animal involved in last November's attack was never captured. Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety & More Inc. in Calgary, said she was concerned when she saw reports about women on hiking Facebook groups. 'When I saw that they had disappeared and were in the area where they disappeared, my heart sank because I knew this could be a bear attack,' Titchener said. 'This community and area have suffered so much last year,' she added, referring to the grizzly bear attack on students. [1]
Bella Coola is well known for its large population of grizzly bears and black bears, and Titchener said it is common for people in Bella Coola to see bears wandering near their homes. Titchener said there are 'worrying pressures' on British Columbia's bear populations due to habitat loss, food stress caused by drought and climate change, triggering increased conflicts with humans. 'I don't know if Bella Coola has suffered due to drought issues, but certainly other parts of the BC province have,' she said. [1]
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