A young girl is in hospital after police and conservation officials say she was attacked by a bear outside her family's home in a city east of Vancouver. A black bear stands near the side of Highway 881 near Conklin, Alberta, on May 10, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

By The Canadian Press

Wrong bear killed

Update: Police in Maple Ridge issue statement after concerns arise over shooting the wrong bear

Aug 10, 2026 | 12:52 PM

UPDATE, 3:35 P.M. MONDAY: Police in Maple Ridge say they’re aware of the community’s concern about the recent bear attack and the police response on Sunday, August 9.

In a statement released mid-afternoon Monday, the Maple Ridge RCMP detachment says while its members value local wildlife, its officers must also act when faced with an immediate threat to public safety.

“Following the attack on a three-year-old child, a bear was observed multiple times in the same area within approximately 40 minutes, including on residential properties where people were outside,” Maple Ridge RCMP said. “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.”

The Maple Ridge RCMP detachment says it has since been advised by the BC Conservation Officer Service that necropsy results indicate the deceased bear was not responsible for the attack.

“However, that information was not available at the time, and officers acted reasonably based on the circumstances and information available to them to protect public safety. The loss of any wildlife is significant, and decisions of this nature are never taken lightly. Our thoughts remain with the child, their family, and all those affected by this incident.”

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Original story below:

MAPLE RIDGE — The search for a black bear who attacked a three-year-old girl east of Vancouver on the weekend is still ongoing after officials say Mounties killed the wrong bear.

A spokesperson for the provincial parks ministry says RCMP officers killed a black bear hours after the mauling on Sunday in Maple Ridge, but an autopsy later proved it wasn’t the “offending” animal.

The spokesperson says the public is still being asked to avoid the area as authorities search for the bear involved.

The attack happened in the backyard of the girl’s home, and a parent intervened and chased the bear away.

The child was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital with non-life-altering injuries.

B.C. RCMP said on Sunday that officers shot a bear that had returned to the home multiple times after the attack, and it ran into a wooded area after it was struck.

Update: Police in Maple Ridge issue statement after concerns arise over shooting the wrong bear

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