Authorities are continuing their search for the black bear responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The bear that was euthanized by the RCMP following the incident was confirmed not to be the culprit.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service reported that the young girl was playing on her family’s backyard deck when the attack occurred, and one of her parents intervened to scare off the bear. Despite the belief that the bear returned to the area multiple times that day, it was only after showing signs of aggression that officers decided to shoot it to ensure public safety. Subsequently, the bear fled into a wooded area after being struck.
A necropsy conducted on the bear revealed that it was not the one responsible for the attack, as confirmed by the Ministry of Environment and Parks. The girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital.
A team from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service specializing in predator attacks remains on-site, advising the public to steer clear of the area. Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten highlighted that the decision to euthanize the bear was likely due to a lack of expertise among the RCMP in bear behavior, emphasizing that injured bears can pose a greater risk.
While acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Lesley Fox of The Fur-Bearers stressed the importance of accurate identification and evidence-based decision-making during wildlife encounters. Both Fox and Macquisten advocated for more conservation officers to handle such incidents effectively.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to euthanize the bear, citing concerns for public safety. They emphasized that encounters with bears are not routine for their officers and pledged to review incidents for potential improvements in training and equipment. The Conservation Officer Service echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative nature of addressing predator attacks with law enforcement partners.