After a thorough reevaluation of evidence, gathering new proof, and conducting DNA testing, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service has officially confirmed that the bear eradicated on August 9 is indeed the bear accountable for assaulting a three-year-old girl while she was playing on her family’s deck in Maple Ridge.
Authorities are currently in pursuit of the black bear that launched an attack on a three-year-old child in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, on Sunday, as it has been determined that the bear dispatched by the RCMP was not the offending animal.
According to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, the young girl was engaged in play on her family’s deck in the backyard when the incident occurred, with one of her parents stepping in to chase the creature away.
Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear believed to be responsible revisited the area multiple times that day while law enforcement personnel were present, leading officers to take action and shoot the bear due to signs of aggression with the aim of safeguarding public safety. The bear fled into a wooded region after being struck.
The bear was located and subjected to a necropsy by the Ministry of Environment and Parks, revealing that it was not the bear behind the attack. The girl was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening.
A team from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service specializing in predator attacks remains on-site, urging the public to steer clear of the area.
Veterinarian Ken Macquisten, specializing in wildlife, expressed little surprise over the mistaken bear termination, highlighting that the RCMP lack expertise in bear behavior compared to conservation officers. Macquisten emphasized that the bullets typically used by police officers are more likely to injure than kill a bear, which can escalate the danger posed by the animal.
Lesley Fox, executive director of wildlife conservation group The Fur-Bearers, stressed the importance of making informed decisions under pressure, emphasizing the significance of proper identification and scientific methods in dealing with individual animals in such situations.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to euthanize the bear, stating that they believed it was the correct one to prevent further harm or casualties. They acknowledged that such decisions are weighty and not made lightly.
Both Macquisten and Fox advocated for increased numbers of conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively, emphasizing the need for expert handling in such cases.
The Maple Ridge RCMP assured that they regularly assess incidents to enhance officer training and equipment for better public service. The Conservation Officer Service reiterated that predator attacks are high-priority calls and that they collaborate closely with law enforcement partners across the province.