After a black bear attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge, B.C., officials are still in search of the correct bear, as the one shot by RCMP was not the culprit. The incident occurred while the girl was playing on her family’s deck, with one of her parents stepping in to scare the bear away.
Despite the belief that the bear returned multiple times to the area that day, displaying signs of aggression, officers shot it to ensure public safety. The bear fled into the woods after being hit and was later retrieved for a necropsy, revealing it was not the bear responsible for the attack.
The young girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, a B.C. Conservation Officer Service team specializing in predator attacks remains on-site, urging the public to steer clear of the area.
According to wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten, the mistaken killing of the bear was not surprising, as he highlighted that police lack the expertise in bear behavior compared to conservation officers. Macquisten emphasized that police bullets are more likely to injure than kill a bear, potentially escalating the danger posed by an injured animal.
Lesley Fox, the executive director of The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the importance of accurate identification and scientific methods in such situations, advocating for more conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively.
In response to the incident, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that the decision to dispatch the bear was made to prevent further harm, emphasizing that such actions are never taken lightly. The department reassured that encounters with bears are not common for officers but are more prevalent during seasonal bear activities when collaborating with the Conservation Officer Service.
Both organizations have expressed their commitment to reviewing incidents to enhance officer training and equipment for better public service. The Conservation Officer Service highlighted that predator attacks are a top priority and collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies throughout the province.
