Authorities are continuing their search for the black bear responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge, B.C. The bear that was euthanized by the RCMP was not the culprit. The incident occurred while the child was playing on her family’s deck, with one of her parents intervening to scare off the bear.
The Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear returned multiple times that day, leading to its lethal shooting by officers due to signs of aggression. Following the incident, the bear fled into a wooded area. A post-mortem examination on the bear confirmed it was not involved in the attack.
The injured girl was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A predator attack team from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service is currently at the scene, urging the public to avoid the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten highlighted that the RCMP lacks expertise in dealing with bears, leading to the mistaken killing of the wrong bear. He emphasized the importance of trained conservation officers in handling such situations to ensure the correct identification and safe handling of wildlife.
Lesley Fox, from The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the need for proper evidence and scientific methods in decision-making during wildlife encounters. She called for increased resources for conservation officers to effectively manage such incidents.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their actions, stating they believed they had targeted the correct bear to prevent further harm. The department noted the rarity of bear encounters for their officers and pledged to review the incident for potential improvements in training and equipment.
Both the RCMP and the Conservation Officer Service assured the public of their collaborative efforts in responding to predator attacks, prioritizing public safety and wildlife conservation.