The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for the confusion caused, revealing that the RCMP euthanized a bear that had attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier this month. According to the BCCOS, the incident occurred on Aug. 9 when the girl was playing on her family’s deck and was attacked by a black bear. A parent managed to scare the bear away.
Subsequently, Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear had returned to the area multiple times, prompting officers to shoot it. However, two days later, a necropsy performed on the bear indicated that it was not the bear responsible for the attack. In a video statement shared on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls clarified that after a thorough investigation, including DNA analysis, it was confirmed that the bear killed was indeed the one involved in the attack.
Pauls expressed regret for the initial confusion caused by the BCCOS’s assessment and thanked the RCMP for their swift response in safeguarding public safety. He also mentioned that the victim, who had previously been reported to have non-life-altering injuries, is still in the process of recovery. In response to the situation, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that they consistently review incidents to explore potential enhancements in training and equipment for better service to officers and the community.