The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has issued an apology for causing confusion, stating that investigations have confirmed the RCMP’s decision to euthanize a bear involved in an attack on a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge earlier this month.

According to the BCCOS, the incident occurred on August 9 when the girl was playing on her family’s backyard deck and was attacked by a black bear. One of her parents managed to chase the bear away.

Subsequently, Maple Ridge RCMP reported that the bear returned to the area multiple times while officers were present, leading them to shoot the animal. However, a necropsy performed on the bear two days later revealed that it was not the bear responsible for the attack.

In a video statement shared on social media, BCCOS Sgt. Jeremy Pauls stated that after further investigation, including a reevaluation of the evidence, additional evidence collection, and DNA analysis, it was confirmed that the bear that was euthanized was indeed the one involved in the attack. Pauls clarified that no other bears were put down in connection with this incident.

Pauls expressed regret for the confusion caused by the initial assessment and commended the RCMP for their swift response in safeguarding public safety. He also mentioned that the victim, who was reported by RCMP to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries, is on the path to recovery.

Following the BCCOS’s acknowledgment of the mistaken identity of the bear, Maple Ridge RCMP stated that they are committed to reviewing such incidents to enhance officer training and equipment for better service to both officers and the public.