A three-year-old girl is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries after being attacked by a black bear outside her family’s Maple Ridge home Sunday, but the bear responsible remains at large.
The attack happened shortly before noon on Aug. 9 while the child was playing on the deck of her family’s backyard near 240 Street and 124 Avenue.
A parent who was nearby intervened and chased the bear away. The girl was taken to BC Children’s Hospital by air ambulance. Authorities said the decision to airlift her was made out of an abundance of caution because of her age.
The incident triggered a large response from Maple Ridge RCMP and the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, with police blocking off part of 240 Street while officers searched for the animal.
The situation escalated when another bear was spotted repeatedly in the area.
According to police, officers encountered a bear several times within roughly 40 minutes following the attack. The animal was seen on residential properties while people were outside, leading officers to believe it was the same bear that had attacked the child.
Officers shot the bear after determining it posed an ongoing threat. The wounded animal fled into a wooded area.
The bear was later located and killed.
However, an examination of the animal has now determined that it was not the bear responsible for the attack. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service notified police that necropsy results showed the deceased bear was not the offending animal.
That means the bear that attacked the child remains somewhere in the area, and conservation officers are continuing their search.
Police defend decision
The revelation that the wrong bear was killed has raised concerns in the community, but Maple Ridge RCMP said officers acted on the information available to them at the time.
Police said the bear was seen multiple times in the same area shortly after the child was attacked, including on residential properties where people were present.
Based on those circumstances, officers believed they were dealing with the bear involved in the attack and made the decision to dispatch it in an effort to prevent another injury or potentially a loss of life.
The RCMP said the information confirming it was a different bear was not available when officers encountered the animal.
Police also acknowledged that the loss of wildlife is significant and said decisions involving the destruction of an animal are not taken lightly.
The focus has now shifted back to locating the bear that attacked the child.
Authorities are asking people in the area to avoid the affected neighbourhood and remain indoors while the search continues.
Bear safety reminder for B.C. residents
The Maple Ridge incident is a reminder that black bears can turn up in residential neighbourhoods, particularly in communities surrounded by forest and other natural habitat.
For people living in areas such as the North Island, where bears are a regular part of the landscape, conservation officials recommend taking steps to avoid attracting wildlife close to homes.
Residents should keep garbage secured, avoid leaving pet food outdoors and clean up fallen fruit and other potential food sources. BBQs and outdoor cooking areas should also be cleaned regularly.
If a bear is spotted, people should keep their distance and bring children and pets inside when possible. A bear that appears calm should not be approached, followed or cornered.
The Conservation Officer Service continues to investigate Sunday’s attack and search for the bear responsible.
The three-year-old’s injuries have been described as non-life-threatening and non-life-altering.
