The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for the confusion caused, stating that investigations have shown that the RCMP had to shoot a bear that had attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier in the month. According to BCCOS, the incident occurred on August 9 when the girl was playing on her family’s deck and was attacked by a black bear. One of her parents managed to scare the bear away. Subsequently, Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear returned multiple times while officers were present, prompting them to shoot the animal.
However, two days later, a necropsy was conducted on the bear, revealing that it was not the bear responsible for the attack. In a video statement posted on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls stated that after further investigation, including reevaluating evidence, gathering additional evidence, and DNA analysis, it was confirmed that the bear that was shot was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls clarified that no other bears were killed in relation to this incident.
Sgt. Pauls expressed regret over the confusion caused by the initial assessment and thanked the RCMP for their swift response in safeguarding public safety. He mentioned that the victim, who was reported by the RCMP to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the attack, is on the path to recovery. Following the BCCOS’s initial assessment error, Maple Ridge RCMP informed CBC News that they always review incidents to explore potential enhancements in training or equipment to better support officers and the public.