Mother and daughter die after suspected grizzly bear attack in Canada

A mother and daughter have died after a suspected grizzly bear attack in the Canadian province of British Columbia, their family has announced. The women - identified as Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20 -were reported missing on 1 November when they did not return from what was supposed to be a short afternoon walk, the family said.

Their remains were found in a trail area in Bella Coola, according to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS), which said evidence at the scene "suggested an animal may have been involved". Balcarras' remains were found on Monday and Reed's on Tuesday during search efforts by conservation officers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Jeff Tyre, an inspector with the BCCOS, said it was not yet clear if more than one was potentially involved in the women's deaths. He added that any captured bear would be assessed and if it is found to have been involved in the attack "it will be dispatched in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines to protect public safety".