The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) issued an apology for creating confusion, clarifying that the RCMP had euthanized a bear that had attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier this month. According to reports from August 9, the BCCOS mentioned that the girl was playing on her family’s backyard deck when a black bear assaulted her, prompting one of her parents to chase the bear away.
Subsequently, the Maple Ridge RCMP indicated that the bear had returned multiple times to the area while officers were present, leading to the decision to shoot it. However, two days later, a necropsy performed on the bear revealed that it was not the bear responsible for the attack, as stated by the BCCOS.
In a video statement shared on social media on Friday, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls confirmed that upon further investigation, including a reassessment of evidence, additional evidence collection, and DNA analysis, it was determined that the dispatched bear was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls assured 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 safeguarding public safety. He also mentioned that the victim, who was reported by the RCMP to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the attack, is still in the process of recovery.
Following the BCCOS’s correction regarding the identity of the bear, Maple Ridge RCMP stated to CBC News that they regularly review such incidents to explore potential improvements in training and equipment for the benefit of officers and the public.
