A mother and daughter died in a suspected bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia, and officials are investigating whether more than one bear was involved. Jennifer “Jenny” Balcarras, 48, and Selah Reed, 20, were reported missing after what was expected to be a short walk. Searchers found Balcarras on Monday and Reed on Tuesday in the Snooka West trail area. Investigators said evidence suggested an animal may have been involved, but the number of bears remains unclear [bbc.co.uk][theglobeandmail.com][abcnews.com]. The British Columbia Conservation Officer Service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police are searching for and trying to trap any bears involved. Officers will assess captured animals and kill any bear they determine was responsible, citing public safety. Authorities have urged people to avoid the trail while the investigation continues [abc.net.au][theguardian.com][theglobeandmail.com]. A grizzly attack on a school group in the Bella Coola area about a year earlier injured 11 people; that bear was never caught. The Nuxalk Nation established a recommended curfew for residents [wfla.com]. Inspector Jeff Tyre of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service said officers were in regular contact with the Nuxalk Nation and the Bella Coola community to provide updates [japantoday.com]. He said they were also in contact with the victims’ family to offer support [cbsnews.com]. Highlights: • Family and work: Balcarras had joined the local school community as a counselor in August and leaves three adult children and a grandchild; a fundraiser had reached about 60% of its C$70,000 target [abc.net.au][japantoday.com]. • Bear population: British Columbia is estimated to have 10,000 to 13,000 grizzlies, which the province classifies as vulnerable [bbc.co.uk][cbsnews.com]. • Safety context: A provincial ministry says human-grizzly conflicts are relatively rare unless bears are startled or protecting cubs or food [bbc.co.uk][cbsnews.com]. • Training demand: Bear-safety expert Kim Titchener said day-care centres and school groups sought training after the previous Bella Coola attack [japantoday.com][wkyc.com]. Perspectives: Nuxalk Nation: Elected Chief Samuel Schooner said the incident would traumatize the victims’ relatives, survivors of the previous year’s attack and the wider community. He asked media not to contact community members [theglobeandmail.com][theguardian.com]. (The Globe and Mail) Kim Titchener, bear-safety expert: Titchener said habitat loss and food stress associated with drought and climate change can contribute to more encounters between bears and people. She said she did not know whether Bella Coola itself had experienced drought [japantoday.com][scmp.com]. (The Associated Press) "not yet clear if more than one bear was involved" — Inspector Jeff Tyre, British Columbia Conservation Officer Service Sources: • Canadian authorities say multiple grizzlies may have attacked mother and daughter found dead - japantoday.com • Mother and daughter killed in grizzly bear attack, Canadian authorities confirm - theguardian.com • Authorities say multiple grizzlies may have attacked mother and daughter found dead - abcnews.com • Mother and daughter die after suspected grizzly bear attack in Canada - bbc.co.uk • Hunt in Canada after multiple grizzlies suspected of killing mother and daughter - scmp.com • Canadian police find remains of mother and daughter killed by grizzly bears - abc.net.au • Mother, daughter dead in suspected grizzly bear attack in Canada - cbsnews.com • Multiple grizzlies may have attacked mother and daughter found dead, Canadian authorities say - wkyc.com • Canadian mom, daughter killed in suspected bear attack - cleveland.com • Several grizzlies may have killed mother, daughter in Canada - reviewjournal.com • Suspected grizzly bear attack in British Columbia leaves mother, daughter dead - fox5ny.com • Mother, daughter found dead in suspected grizzly bear attack in B.C. - theglobeandmail.com • Canadian mother and daughter killed in suspected bear attack - nst.com.my • Tragedy in Canada as grizzly bear kills mother and daughter - minutemirror.com.pk • Multiple bears may have killed mother and daughter in Canada - sky.com • Vermiste moeder en dochter dood teruggevonden in natuurgebied, mogelijk aangevallen door meerdere grizzly beren - nieuwsblad.be • Multiple grizzlies may have killed mother and daughter in Canada - gulfnews.com • Mother, daughter killed in suspected grizzly bear attack in Canada - wfla.com • Mom, daughter killed in suspected bear attack - mlive.com • Mother, daughter killed in suspected grizzly bear attack - myfox8.com • Kanada: Mutter und Tochter bei Grizzlybären-Attacke getötet - sn-online.de --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News