UPDATE, Aug. 14 — The B.C. Conservation Officer Service has confirmed that the bear killed on Aug. 9 in Maple Ridge, B.C., was not the one responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl while she was playing on her family’s deck. Authorities are still on the lookout for the bear that carried out the attack.
The incident occurred when the young girl was on the deck in her backyard, prompting one of her parents to intervene and scare the bear away. Despite initial beliefs that the bear had returned to the area multiple times that day, law enforcement officers ended up shooting the bear to safeguard public safety after it displayed signs of aggression and fled into a wooded area.
Following a necropsy performed on the bear, it was determined that it was not the same bear involved in the attack. The girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
A wildlife veterinarian highlighted that the mistaken killing of the bear was not surprising, criticizing the lack of expertise among police officers compared to conservation officers. The veterinarian emphasized the potential danger posed by injuring a bear without killing it, making it more hazardous.
The executive director of a wildlife conservation group stressed the importance of proper identification and evidence-based decision-making in such situations. Calls were made for an increased presence of conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to euthanize the bear, citing the need to prevent further harm. They acknowledged the significance of such actions and stated that they continuously assess opportunities for improved training and equipment to enhance public safety.
Both law enforcement agencies and the Conservation Officer Service reiterated their commitment to prioritizing predator attacks and collaborating on wildlife-related matters.