Mother and baby daughter mauled to death by grizzly bear in Canada

Valérie Théorêt and Adele Roesholt believed to have gone for a walk in remote area

A grizzly bear roams through the Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (REUTERS)

A mother and her 10-month-old baby have been mauled to death by a grizzly bear in Canada.

Valérie Théorêt, 37, her daughter, Adele Roesholt and her father Gjermund Roesholt were staying in a remote cabin in the Yukon area.

Mr Roesholt was working in the area as a bear trapper on Monday when one of the animals charged at him only 100 metres from the remote cabin where his family was staying.

He shot it dead and returned to the property where he found the bodies of his wife and child lying outside.

"About 100 metres from the cabin he shared with his wife and 10-month-old child, he was charged by a grizzly bear," the coroner service said.

"He was forced to shoot the bear dead. Upon returning to the cabin he found the bodies of his wife and child just outside of the cabin."

It is thought that Ms Théorêt and her daughter Adele may have been going out for a walk when they were attacked.

They apparently had plenty of outdoor experience and had bought their remote cabin three years ago.

After finding the bodies, Mr Roesholt called emergency services at the closest village, Mayo, home to around 200 people.

News quickly spread and friends from the area offered their condolences.

"It's a big, big blow. Everybody is totally devastated right now," family friend Rémy Beaupré told CBC.

"Lots of our friends are gathering tonight to mourn a little bit and support each other a little bit."

An investigation into the incident is underway.