UPDATE, Aug. 14 — The B.C. Conservation Officer Service has confirmed that the bear killed on August 9 in Maple Ridge was not the one responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl while she was playing on her family’s deck. Authorities are still searching for the bear that carried out the attack.
According to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, the young girl was on her family’s back deck when the incident occurred, and one of her parents intervened to scare off the bear. Despite initial beliefs, the bear that was shot by RCMP officers in response to its aggressive behavior was not the culprit, as confirmed by a necropsy conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Parks.
The girl, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was promptly taken to the hospital. A predator attack team from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service remains on the scene, urging the public to steer clear of the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten expressed little surprise at the mistaken identity of the bear shot by the RCMP, emphasizing that police officers lack the specialized knowledge in bear behavior possessed by conservation officers. Macquisten highlighted the potential risks when bears are injured rather than killed in a single shot, making them more dangerous.
Lesley Fox, executive director of The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the importance of accurate identification and scientific methods in such critical situations. Both Fox and Macquisten advocated for a greater presence of conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to euthanize the bear, emphasizing the need to prevent further harm. They acknowledged the significance of such decisions and pledged to continuously evaluate their response procedures. The Conservation Officer Service reiterated the importance of addressing predator attacks promptly and collaboratively with law enforcement agencies province-wide.