The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for the confusion caused, acknowledging that the RCMP had euthanized a bear that had attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier this month. According to the initial report on August 9, the girl was playing on her family’s deck when a black bear attacked her, and one of her parents managed to scare the bear away.
Subsequently, the Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear had returned multiple times while officers were present, leading to the decision to shoot the animal. However, two days later, a necropsy on the bear revealed that it was not the bear responsible for the attack as initially assumed.
In a recent video statement shared on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls confirmed that after further investigation, evidence reassessment, and DNA analysis, it was concluded that the dispatched bear was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls clarified that no other bears were euthanized in connection with this incident.
Expressing regret for the earlier confusion, Pauls acknowledged the swift response of the RCMP in safeguarding public safety. He also mentioned that the victim, who had reportedly sustained non-life-threatening injuries according to the RCMP, is still recuperating. Following the initial misidentification of the bear, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that they always review such incidents to explore better training or equipment options for the benefit of officers and the public.