Metro Vancouver parents raise concerns after bear attack on Maple Ridge toddler

A three-year-old girl mauled by a bear in Maple Ridge on Sunday was airlifted to BC Children's Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is investigating. The girl's father reportedly shot the aggressive bear in the head with an arrow before the wounded animal ran off.

Parents elsewhere in Metro Vancouver say bear encounters in residential areas remain a concern. Burnaby resident Nicole Gladish said bears continue to visit her townhouse complex despite secure garbage enclosures, with sightings usually occurring at least twice a week during summer.

Provincial figures show conservation officers dispatched 41 black bears in June, compared with 30 in June 2025, while relocating two. Holly Reisner of the North Shore Black Bear Society said bears can return even after being moved long distances because of their strong geographic memory.

Gladish said younger bears may have better relocation outcomes and urged more nuanced policy. The conservation officer service advises residents to remove or secure attractants, including garbage and fruit from trees, to reduce bear encounters in neighbourhoods.