Mother and daughter killed in grizzly attack in Canada after failing to return from a walk
Photo: Collected
A mother and her daughter in British Columbia, Canada, went missing after setting out for a walk on the afternoon of 1 November. Their bodies were later recovered in a search operation; the two were killed in a grizzly bear attack. The victims are Jennifer Balkaran, 48, and her 20-year-old daughter Selah Reid. The family has confirmed their deaths.
The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said the two bodies were recovered near a walking trail in the province’s Bella Coola area. Evidence found at the scene suggests a wild animal may have been involved. Wildlife conservation officers are searching for the bear that may have been involved.
Officials said Jennifer Balkaran’s body was found on Monday and Selah Reid’s on Tuesday during the search. Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) also took part in the operation alongside conservation officers.
BCCOS inspector Jeff Tyre said it is not yet certain whether more than one bear was behind the deaths of the two women. Any bear that is caught will be examined. If the investigation proves a bear was involved in the attack, it will be killed in the interest of public safety under the provincial guidelines for handling human-wildlife conflict.
Describing how close the two were, Jennifer’s brother Josh Balkaran told Canadian broadcaster CBC that Jennifer and Selah were ‘two sides of the same coin’. Their relationship was very close; they got on wonderfully and shared many hobbies.
Josh said, ‘Whenever Jenny went hiking on mountain trails, Selah was always by her side.’
The family has started an online fundraiser to cover funeral costs. The fundraiser’s description says Jennifer had recently moved to Bella Coola to start a new career and a new chapter in her life.
Under Canadian federal law, the grizzly bear is listed as a ‘species of special concern’. According to Environmental Reporting BC, the animal is an important part of British Columbia’s natural environment and biodiversity.
According to the provincial Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, there are an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 grizzly bears in British Columbia. The ministry has also classified the species as at risk. It says conflicts between bears and people are relatively rare, but the risk rises when a bear is suddenly startled or tries to protect its cubs or food.
In recent years, however, grizzly attacks have caused casualties in British Columbia more than once. In October 2025, two climbers were injured in a grizzly attack in the McGregor Mountain area; one of them later died of serious injuries. The bear was later also found dead.
The very next month, in November 2025, a bear attacked a group of schoolchildren in the same Bella Coola area, injuring 11 people. The British Columbia Wildlife Federation (BCWF) has said reports of conflict between grizzly bears and people have increased since trophy hunting of grizzlies was banned in the province in 2017. At the time, the organisation’s executive director Jesse Zeman said, ‘Without any hunting pressure, grizzly bears and people will increasingly live in the same areas. The inevitable result will be conflict.’
Background
According to a CP24 report of 29 November 2025, British Columbia conservation officers found no link between that attack on schoolchildren and teachers in Bella Coola and four grizzly bears captured afterwards.
At a glance
According to a report by the AP news agency on 21 November 2025, Bella Coola lies about 700 kilometres north-west of Vancouver.
Sources
Background sources: CP24, 29 November 2025; AP (ABC7), 21 November 2025
