The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for the confusion caused by a recent incident in Maple Ridge, where the RCMP shot a bear that had attacked a three-year-old girl. According to reports from August 9, the girl was playing on her family’s deck when a black bear assaulted her, prompting one of her parents to chase the bear away.
Subsequently, Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear returned multiple times to the vicinity while officers were present, leading them to shoot the bear. However, a necropsy performed on the bear two days later by the BCCOS revealed that it was not the bear responsible for the attack.
In a recent video statement shared on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls confirmed that after further investigation, including reevaluating the evidence, gathering additional evidence, and conducting DNA analysis, it was determined that the bear dispatched by the authorities was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls clarified that no other bears were killed in connection to this incident.
Pauls expressed regret for the initial confusion caused by the BCCOS’s assessment and thanked the RCMP for their prompt response in safeguarding public safety. He also mentioned that the victim, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries as per RCMP reports, is on the path to recovery.
Following the mistaken identity of the bear, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that they always review such incidents to explore better training or equipment options to enhance their services for officers and the public.
