The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for causing confusion, clarifying that the RCMP euthanized a bear that had attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier this month. According to reports on August 9, the BCCOS stated that the girl was playing on the deck in her family’s backyard when a black bear attacked her, prompting one of her parents to scare the bear away.
Subsequently, Maple Ridge RCMP revealed that the bear had returned to the vicinity multiple times while officers were present, leading them to shoot the animal. However, two days later, the BCCOS disclosed that a necropsy performed on the bear revealed it was not the bear responsible for the attack.
In a video statement posted on social media on Friday, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls confirmed that after further investigations, including a reevaluation of the evidence, additional evidence collection, and DNA analysis, it was determined that the dispatched bear 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 prompt response in ensuring 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 recovery.
Following the BCCOS’s initial assessment indicating the wrong bear was euthanized, Maple Ridge RCMP stated in a response to CBC News that they always evaluate incidents to explore opportunities for enhanced training or equipment that could better support officers and the community.