The BC Preservation Police Service reported that a three-year-old girl was attacked by a black bear while playing on her backyard patio on Sunday. A parent intervened and chased the bear away. Maple Ridge RCMP stated that during the day police were present, a bear believed to be the same one returned to the scene multiple times and exhibited aggressive behaviour. Officers fired shots to protect public safety. The bear fled into the woodland after being shot but was later recovered and underwent an autopsy. The Ministry of Environment and Parks confirmed that the autopsy results showed the bear was not the same individual that attacked the girl.
The girl was taken to hospital for treatment; her injuries were not life-threatening or caused permanent damage. The predator attack team from the nature reserve police service is still investigating at the scene, and the public has been asked to stay away from the area. Wildlife veterinarian Ken Macquisten was not surprised by the result. He pointed out that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are not bear experts, have not received the specialized training of officers in nature reserves, and that police ammunition calibres are usually not enough to kill a bear with a single shot, making it more likely to injure it, and an injured bear is more dangerous than an uninjured one.
Lesley Fox, executive director of the animal protection organization The Fur-Bearers, emphasized that while such emergencies require a swift response, accurate identification is equally crucial. Decisions must be made under pressure based on reliable evidence and scientific methods to ensure that the specific offending animal is dealt with. Both individuals agree that additional positions for nature reserve police officers should be created to allow professionals to directly respond to wildlife grievances.
In a statement, the Maple Ridge RCMP said officers were certain they had located the correct target and made the decision to shoot to prevent further casualties. The statement said that the death of any wild animal is a serious matter, and such decisions are never made lightly. Fortunately, encounters with bears are not routine for officers, but they are more common when working with nature reserve officers during seasonal bear activity. Police also stated they will continue to review their procedures and look for areas for improvement in training or equipment. The Nature Reserve Police Service reiterated that predator attacks are a top priority and that it is working in collaboration with law enforcement partners across the province.