Officials 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 killed by the RCMP following the incident was not the culprit, as confirmed by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
The young girl was playing on her family’s back deck when the attack occurred. A parent intervened and scared the bear away. Despite the belief that the bear returned multiple times that day, it was not the same bear that attacked the girl. After displaying signs of aggression, the bear was shot by officers to ensure public safety and fled into a wooded area.
The bear was later found and underwent a necropsy, which revealed it was not the bear responsible for the attack. The girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital by the RCMP.
A team from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service specializing in predator attacks remains on-site, urging the public to avoid the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten noted that the mistaken killing of the bear was not surprising, emphasizing that the RCMP lacks expertise in bear behavior compared to conservation officers. Macquisten highlighted the challenges of using bullets that may injure rather than kill bears, potentially making them more dangerous.
Lesley Fox, executive director of The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the importance of proper identification and evidence in such situations. Both Fox and Macquisten advocated for more conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to dispatch the bear, stating it was made to prevent further harm. They acknowledged the significance of such decisions and emphasized the rarity of bear encounters for their officers.
Both the RCMP and the Conservation Officer Service emphasized the collaborative efforts in handling predator attacks and continually reviewing incidents to enhance response strategies.