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. Authorities are still searching for the black bear that carried out the attack on the girl as she played on her family’s deck. The child’s parent intervened and scared the bear away during the incident.
Following the attack, the bear believed to be responsible returned to the area multiple times on the same day. Law enforcement officers shot the bear after it displayed signs of aggression to ensure public safety. The bear fled into a wooded area after being shot. Despite a necropsy revealing that the killed bear was not the attacker, the girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.
The public is advised to avoid the area as a B.C. Conservation Officer Service predator attack team continues to investigate. Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten commented that the wrong bear was euthanized, emphasizing that police lack expertise in bear behavior compared to conservation officers. He also noted that the caliber of bullets used by police may not effectively kill a bear on the first shot, potentially leading to a more dangerous situation with an injured bear.
Lesley Fox, from The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the importance of proper identification and evidence in such urgent situations. Both Fox and Macquisten called for increased numbers of conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively. Maple Ridge RCMP stated that the decision to euthanize the bear was made to prevent further harm, acknowledging the significance of such actions and the need for ongoing review and improvement in handling similar situations.
Authorities are working collaboratively to address predator attacks as a top priority, aiming to enhance responses and public safety in partnership with law enforcement agencies.