Canadian police find remains of mother and daughter killed by grizzly bears

In short: 

Investigators say multiple grizzly bears could have been involved in an attack that killed a mother and daughter in British Columbia.

The remains of Jenny Balcarras and her daughter Selah Reed were found after their family reported them missing on Sunday. 

What's next? 

Investigators are continuing their search for the bears, which will be killed for public safety. 

Canadian authorities say more than one grizzly bear may have been involved in a deadly attack on a mother and daughter on the country's west coast.

Investigators discovered the remains of art therapist Jenny Balcarras and her daughter Selah Reed shortly after their family reported them missing from Bella Coola, British Columbia on Sunday, local time.

Jeff Tyre, an inspector at the province's Conservation Officer Service, said any bears captured would be assessed.

He advised hikers to stay away from the trail where the attack unfolded.

Mr Tyre said efforts to capture the bear or bears involved in the attack continued, and any animals captured by the service would be killed in accordance with provincial guidelines.

"It's not yet clear if more than one bear was involved," he said. 

A fundraiser set up by relative Mary Melissa Smith said Ms Reed was 20 "with her whole life ahead of her". 

The fundraiser has so far raised about 60 per cent of the $CAD70,000 ($71,500) target.

She said Ms Balcarras, a mother and grandmother, had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career.

Ms Balcarras is survived by a son, two daughters and a grandson who now are "faced with the devastating loss of their mother", Ms Smith said.

The Central Coast Teachers' Association said on social media that Ms Balcarras joined their school community as a counsellor in August.

She devoted "countless hours to connecting with the students she served and worked closely with teachers and other staff supporting their wellbeing", the post read.

The attack comes nearly a year after a grizzly bear attack on a group of 20 elementary school students and teachers in the same area, which left one adult and three children badly hurt.

The animal involved in that attack last November was never captured.

Bella Coola is well-known for its large population of grizzly and black bears.

Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety & More Inc based in Calgary, said bears were often spotted walking near residential areas in Bella Coola.

She said bears' loss of habitat, combined with food stress caused by an ongoing drought in the region, were setting off more conflicts with people.