Three-year-old Maple Ridge girl hospitalized after black bear attack in backyard
CSO says bear killed by police was not attacker
A three-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital after being attacked by a black bear while playing in the backyard of her family’s Maple Ridge home Sunday.
The attack happened at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 9 in the 12300 block of 240 Street, according to the BC Conservation Officer Service (CSO).
The girl was playing on the deck in her family’s backyard when she was attacked by an adult black bear, before a nearby parent who was able to intervene and chase the animal away, according to the CSO.
“Our thoughts are with the child, her family, and all those affected by this incident.” the CSO said.
BC Emergency Health Services airlifted the girl to BC Children’s Hospital, where she was treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening and non-life-altering.
Maple Ridge RCMP were first on the scene, but ended up killing the wrong bear.
After securing the area for paramedics, police discovered another bear in the area they say kept returning several times over a 40-minute period, describing it as showing “a high degree of interest,” and entering several occupied residential properties.
At approximately noon, officers encountered a bear again and shot it. It fled into a wooded area and subsequently died.
RCMP officers warned nearby residents to remain inside, and 240 Street was blocked between 123 and 125 avenues at approximately 12:40 p.m.
Conservation officers arrived following the initial police response and began their own investigation into the attack. On Monday, they said a necropsy determined the bear killed by police was not the animal that attacked the girl.
Efforts to find and capture the offending bear continued Monday, with a specialized Predator Attack Team remaining in the area.
In a statement Aug. 10, Maple Ridge RCMP defended the decision to shoot the bear, saying officers had to act on the information available to them at the time. They said officers did not know until receiving the necropsy results that they had encountered a different bear.
“Based on the information available at the time, officers reasonably believed it was the same bear involved in the attack and made the decision to dispatch the animal to prevent further injury or loss of life,” police said. “The loss of any wildlife is significant, and decisions of this nature are never taken lightly.”
The CSO said Monday its investigation remains active and asked the public to avoid the area while the search continues.
“Efforts to locate and capture the bear responsible are continuing,” the CSO said. “The BC Conservation Officer Service is asking the public to avoid the area while the investigation remains active.”
Residents are being asked to report bear sightings to the CSO’s RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
