Officials are actively searching for the black bear responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The incident occurred while the child was playing on her family’s back deck, prompting one of her parents to intervene and scare the bear away.
Following the attack, the Maple Ridge RCMP believed they had located the bear and shot it multiple times due to its aggressive behavior. However, a subsequent necropsy revealed that the bear they killed was not the one involved in the attack.
The young girl sustained non-life-altering injuries and was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment. A predator attack team from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service remains on-site, urging the public to steer clear of the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten emphasized that law enforcement officers, such as the RCMP, lack the expertise in bear behavior compared to trained conservation officers. He highlighted the potential risks of injuring rather than killing a bear, as an injured bear could pose a greater threat.
Lesley Fox, from The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the importance of accurate identification and evidence in such situations. She advocated for the need to equip more conservation officers to handle wildlife-related incidents effectively.
Maple Ridge RCMP defended their decision to dispatch the bear, citing concerns for public safety. They acknowledged the significance of wildlife conservation and pledged to review incidents to improve officer training and equipment.
Both the RCMP and the Conservation Officer Service reiterated their commitment to prioritizing predator attacks and collaborating to ensure public safety across the province.