Four bears put down after fatal mauling of mother and daughter in Canada

In short:

Canadian wildlife services have put down four grizzly bears, including three cubs.

DNA tests determined that they were behind the fatal mauling of a mother and daughter in the country's west.

What's next?

Authorities are warning that grizzly bears can be aggressive at this time of year.

Authorities have put down four grizzly bears, which they say fatally attacked a mother and daughter in Canada.

Investigators discovered the remains of art therapist Jenny Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, near a hiking trail last week, shortly after their family reported them missing.

DNA tests from the site of the mauling in British Columbia determined that a female bear and her three cubs killed the pair.

"Our investigation also found that this attack likely involved predatory behaviour, which I can tell you is very rare," Inspector Jeff Tyre said. 

"That is to say, we don't know how it started, but we know how it ended."

In a statement, the wildlife services said the animals had been put down, or "dispatched".

A fundraiser set up by a relative has raised about $CAD80,000 ($82,500) to go towards funeral costs, and Ms Balcarras's surviving son and two daughters.

Grizzly bears can be aggressive at this time of year as they build up their fat reserves before winter hibernation.

A school group was attacked by a bear in the same area in November last year. 

Eleven people, including children, were injured — some seriously.

The statement said the four bears identified in the recent attack were not involved in that earlier one.