Officials are continuing their search for the black bear that mauled a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge, B.C. on Sunday. The bear that was put down by the RCMP was determined not to be the culprit. According to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, the girl was playing on her family’s backyard deck when the attack occurred, and a parent intervened to chase the bear away.
The Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear returned to the area multiple times while they were present, and after displaying signs of aggression, officers shot it to safeguard public safety. The bear fled into a wooded area after being shot. A necropsy conducted on the bear revealed that it was not the bear responsible for 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 remains on-site, urging the public to steer clear of the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten commented that the RCMP’s lack of expertise in handling bears likely led to the mistaken killing of the wrong bear. He emphasized the importance of proper identification and the need for conservation officers to handle such situations due to their specialized training.
Lesley Fox, the executive director of The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the necessity of making informed decisions in these urgent scenarios, emphasizing the importance of following scientific methods and ensuring accurate identification of the specific animal involved.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to euthanize the bear, stating it was done to prevent further harm. They acknowledged the significance of wildlife conservation and mentioned that such decisions are never made lightly, promising to review incidents to improve officer training and equipment.
Both Macquisten and Fox advocated for more conservation officers to respond to wildlife incidents, citing the need for their expertise in handling such situations effectively. The Conservation Officer Service highlighted that predator attacks are a top priority and emphasized their collaborative efforts with law enforcement partners across the province.