The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) issued an apology for causing confusion, clarifying that the RCMP had euthanized a bear involved in an attack on a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier this month. According to reports from August 9, the girl was playing on her family’s backyard deck when a black bear attacked her, prompting one of her parents to chase the bear away.
Maple Ridge RCMP later disclosed that the bear had returned to the area multiple times while officers were present, leading them to shoot the bear. However, a necropsy conducted two days later revealed that the bear was not the one responsible for the attack, as stated by the BCCOS in a subsequent announcement.
In a video statement shared on social media on Friday, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls confirmed that after further investigation, including a reevaluation of evidence, additional evidence collection, and DNA analysis, it was determined that the bear dispatched was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls emphasized that no other bears were euthanized in connection to this incident.
Acknowledging the initial confusion caused by the BCCOS’s assessment, Pauls expressed gratitude to the RCMP for their swift response in ensuring public safety. He mentioned that the victim, who had reportedly sustained non-life-threatening injuries according to RCMP, is currently recuperating.
Following the revelation that the incorrect bear had been euthanized, Maple Ridge RCMP stated in a response to CBC News that they routinely review incidents to explore opportunities for enhanced training and equipment to better serve officers and the community.