The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for causing confusion after discovering that the RCMP had euthanized a bear following an attack on a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier this month. The incident occurred on August 9 when the girl was playing on her family’s deck and was attacked by a black bear, which was subsequently chased away by one of her parents.
Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear returned to the area multiple times, leading officers to shoot the animal. However, a necropsy performed by the BCCOS two days later revealed that the bear killed by the RCMP was not the one responsible for the attack.
In a video statement shared on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls clarified that, upon further investigation, including DNA analysis, it was confirmed that the bear dispatched by the officers was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls expressed regret for the earlier confusion caused by the BCCOS’s assessment and commended the RCMP for their swift response to ensure public safety.
The victim, who was initially reported to have sustained non-life-altering injuries, is said to be recovering. Following the revelation that the wrong bear had been killed, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that they always review such incidents to improve the training and equipment available to officers for better public service.
Image: A B.C. Conservation Officer Service sergeant apologizing for the confusion caused by the erroneous assessment.