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 shot and killed by the RCMP following the incident was not the culprit, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
The young girl was playing on her family’s backyard deck when the attack occurred, prompting one of her parents to intervene and scare the bear away. Despite the belief that the bear returned to the area multiple times that day, it was only after showing signs of aggression that the officers decided to shoot it in order to protect public safety.
Subsequently, a necropsy conducted on the bear revealed that it was not the same bear involved in the attack. The girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service has deployed a predator attack team to the site and advises the public to avoid the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten expressed his lack of surprise at the misidentification of the bear. Macquisten highlighted that the RCMP officers, unlike conservation officers, lack expertise in bear behavior and typically use bullets that may not immediately kill a bear, potentially making the situation more dangerous.
Lesley Fox, the executive director of The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, emphasized the importance of accurate identification and following scientific methods in such critical situations. Both Fox and Macquisten advocated for increased resources for conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to euthanize the bear, stating that they believed it was the right course of action to prevent further harm. They acknowledged the significance of such decisions and the necessity to review incidents for potential improvements in handling similar situations in the future.
The incident underscores the need for collaboration between law enforcement agencies and conservation officers in dealing with wildlife encounters, particularly during heightened bear activity seasons.