The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for the confusion caused by previous reports, clarifying that the RCMP had indeed euthanized a bear involved in the attack on a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier in the month. The incident occurred on August 9 when the child was playing on her family’s deck and was attacked by a black bear, prompting one of her parents to scare the bear off. Subsequently, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that the bear returned multiple times to the vicinity while they were present, leading to the bear being shot by officers.
In a twist of events, a necropsy performed on the bear two days later revealed that it was not the bear responsible for the attack, as initially believed. However, in a recent video statement shared on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls confirmed that after thorough investigations, including DNA analysis, it was determined that the bear that was dispatched was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls expressed regret for the earlier confusion and commended the RCMP for their swift response in ensuring public safety.
Regarding the victim’s condition, originally reported by RCMP as having sustained non-life-altering injuries, Pauls mentioned that the child is still in the process of recovery. Maple Ridge RCMP, in response to the initial misidentification of the bear, stated their commitment to reviewing incidents to enhance officer training and equipment for better service delivery to both officers and the public.