Authorities are continuing their search for the black bear responsible for attacking a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The bear that was killed by RCMP following the incident was confirmed not to be the culprit.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service reported that the young girl was playing on her family’s back deck when the attack occurred. Her parent intervened and scared the bear away.
Despite initial beliefs that the bear returned to the area multiple times that day, showing signs of aggression, it was later determined through a necropsy that it was not the bear involved in the attack.
The girl sustained non-life-altering injuries and was taken to the hospital. A predator attack team from the Conservation Officer Service remains on the scene, urging the public to steer clear of the area.
Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten pointed out that law enforcement officers, such as the RCMP, lack expertise in bear behavior compared to conservation officers. He emphasized that using standard police-issue bullets may not effectively kill a bear on the first shot, potentially leading to a more dangerous situation.
Lesley Fox, executive director of The Fur-Bearers wildlife conservation group, stressed the importance of accurate identification in urgent wildlife situations. Both Fox and Macquisten advocated for more conservation officers to handle wildlife incidents effectively.
In response, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that they believed they had the correct bear and made the decision to euthanize it to prevent further harm. They reiterated that such decisions are never taken lightly and are made in collaboration with the Conservation Officer Service.
The incident underscores the need for proper training and equipment for law enforcement officers in dealing with wildlife encounters, with a focus on public safety and effective wildlife management.
