Search for bear continues in Lower Mainland attack
Published 5:30 pm Wednesday, August 12, 2026
The search for an adult black bear that attacked a three-year-old girl in Maple Ridge was ongoing as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, as BC Conservation Officers continued to gather information and observe bears in the area.
The attack took place on Sunday, Aug. 9, at around 11:30 a.m., on a residential property in the 12300-block of 240 Street, where Anaiyah was playing outside on the deck of her home.
Conservation officers said a parent, who was nearby, was able to intervene and chase the bear away.
The little girl named Anaiyah was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital where she is currently on the mend from “non-life-altering” injuries.
Maple Ridge RCMP initially responded to the incident and said a bear returned to the residence and the immediate area multiple times, showing a what Mounties described as a high-degree of interest in the location.
“As the bear had showed signs of aggression and already attacked a small child, officers made the decision to discharge a firearm in an effort to protect public safety in the immediate area” RCMP reported.
The bear was struck, but continued to flee into a wooded area.
BC Conservation Officers Service arrived on scene and at around 12:40 p.m., 240 Street was blocked between 123 and 125 Avenues.
According to the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks, conservation officers collected DNA samples from the scene of the incident that are currently being tested. They are expecting results in the coming days.
On Monday, Aug. 10, BC Conservation indicated a black bear had been killed by RCMP following the attack. But they confirmed it was the wrong bear.
Upon completion of the necropsy, the agency said, “the black bear was determined to not be the offending black bear responsible for yesterday’s bear attack.”
Maple Ridge RCMP said following the attack they observed a bear multiple times in the same area within around 40 minutes of the mauling – including, they said, on residential properties where people were outside.
“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,” contended the Maple Ridge RCMP, noting they believe officers acted reasonably based on the circumstances and the information available to them at the time.
“While we value our local wildlife, our officers must also act when faced with an immediate threat to public safety,” said RCMP.
The BC Conservation Officer Service is asking the public to avoid the area while the investigation remains active.
Anyone with further sightings into this incident, or to report any aggressive or threatening bear encounters, is asked to contact the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.