The B.C. Conservation Officer Service has confirmed that the bear killed on August 9 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, is not the one responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl on her family’s deck. Authorities are still searching for the bear that carried out the attack.
The incident occurred while the young girl was playing outside, and her parent intervened to scare off the bear. Despite the belief that the bear in question returned multiple times to the area, the RCMP eventually shot it due to perceived aggression. However, a subsequent necropsy revealed that this bear was not the culprit behind the attack.
The girl sustained non-life-altering injuries and was promptly taken to the hospital. A B.C. Conservation Officer Service predator attack team remains on-site, urging the public to steer clear of the area for safety.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten highlighted that the mistaken identity in bear killing could be attributed to law enforcement officers lacking specialized knowledge in bear behavior. He emphasized that using certain types of bullets could lead to bear injuries rather than swift kills, potentially escalating the danger posed by the animal.
The urgency of the situation was stressed by Lesley Fox, executive director of The Fur-Bearers, emphasizing the importance of precise identification and evidence-based decision-making. Both Fox and Macquisten advocated for increased presence of conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents efficiently.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to euthanize the bear, citing the need to prevent further harm. They assured that such actions are taken seriously and always subject to review for potential improvements in handling similar situations. The Conservation Officer Service reiterated that predator attacks are a top priority and underscored their collaborative efforts with law enforcement agencies across the province.
