Authorities say more than one grizzly may have been involved in fatal attack

The Conservation Officer Service in British Columbia said more than one grizzly may have been involved in the attack that left a mother and daughter dead in Bella Coola.

Inspector Jeff Tyre of the service stated in a video message that the second body was found on Tuesday afternoon during a search conducted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and conservation officers.

Family members reported the women missing on Sunday. Authorities have imposed a curfew in the community as the search for the animal or animals behind the attack continues.

If the 'offending bear' is captured, it will be killed to protect public safety, Ty, said. A fundraiser set up by relative Mary Melissa Smith said Reed was 20, 'with her whole life ahead of her,' while Balcarras leaves behind three young adult children, as well as a grandchild.

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

Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety & More Inc. based in Calgary, expressed concern after seeing reports of the missing women on Facebook hiking groups, noting the community has suffered from bear-related incidents in recent months. 'When I saw that they were missing and in the area that they were missing, my heart just dropped because I just kind of knew this could be a bear attack,' Titchener said. 'This community and area have suffered so much last year,' she said, referring to the grizzly attack on schoolchildren.