UPDATE, Aug. 14 — The B.C. Conservation Officer Service has confirmed that the bear killed on August 9 in Maple Ridge, B.C., is not the same bear that attacked a three-year-old girl while she was playing on her family’s deck. Authorities are still searching for the bear responsible for the attack.
According to officials, the young girl was on the deck in her backyard when the bear attacked. Her parent intervened and scared the bear away. Although the bear returned to the area multiple times that day, it was shot by officers from the Maple Ridge RCMP after displaying signs of aggression. The bear fled into a wooded area after being shot.
A necropsy revealed that the bear killed by the RCMP was not the one involved in the attack. 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 is currently at the scene, and the public is advised to avoid the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten noted that it was not surprising that the wrong bear was euthanized, as police officers lack the expertise in bear behavior that conservation officers possess. Macquisten highlighted that police officers typically use bullets that may not immediately kill a bear, potentially leading to a more dangerous situation if the bear is only injured.
Lesley Fox, the executive director of The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the importance of making informed decisions based on evidence and scientific methods in such urgent situations. Fox and Macquisten both emphasized the need for more conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively.
Maple Ridge RCMP stated that the decision to euthanize the bear was made to prevent further harm and was not taken lightly. They acknowledged the significance of wildlife preservation and assured that incidents are reviewed to enhance officer training and equipment for improved public safety.
The Conservation Officer Service highlighted that predator attacks are top priority calls and that they collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies statewide.