The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) issued an apology for the confusion caused by recent events, revealing that a bear responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge was killed by the RCMP. The incident occurred on August 9 when the girl was playing on her family’s backyard deck and was attacked by a black bear, prompting one of her parents to chase it away.
Following the attack, the bear returned to the area multiple times while officers were present, leading to the decision to shoot the animal. However, a necropsy performed on the bear two days later showed that it was not the bear responsible for the attack, as initially believed.
In a video statement shared on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls clarified that after further investigation, including DNA analysis, it was confirmed that the bear that was dispatched by the officers was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls expressed regret for the confusion caused by the earlier assessment and expressed gratitude to the RCMP for their swift response in ensuring public safety.
The victim of the bear attack, who was reported to have sustained non-life-altering injuries, is still in the process of recovery. Maple Ridge RCMP stated that they always assess incidents to improve their response and public safety measures.