Stop killing bears in Maple Ridge BC and promote humane co-existence
The Issue
In Maple Ridge, British Columbia, a shocking incident unfolded when a three-year-old girl was attacked by a bear right in the family's backyard. Andrea Lekei and her family were enjoying their day when tragedy struck. The toddler's cries were terrifying and the situation escalated quickly as Andrea's husband managed to fend off the bear. The father later used a compound bow to injure the bear, while the girl was being treated by the grandmother and mother. The RCMP shot at a random bear, who later died from his injury, and conservation officers set out to track and kill the animal who bit the girl. The police shot the wrong bear. And the police excuse is absolutely absurd. Both Lesley Fox of The Fur Bearers and a local veterinarian condemn the killing, stating police have no animal encounter training and no tranquilizers to relocate bears, only cruel bullets that main and slowly kill.
https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/maple-ridge/news/2026/08/4355781
https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/maple-ridge/news/2026/08/4355753
The Construction Officer Service is going after all the bears in the area to locate the "right one". This violent group of conservation officers on a quest to shoot this bear down is rightfully referred to as manpower. It is the epitome of toxic masculinity.
Call Conservation Officer Jordan Ferguson that this hunt is not acceptable. Jordan Ferguson Conservation Officer (Mission) Telephone: 877 952-7277
The bear was likely not predatory, as Maple Ridge is a city, and urban bears are not known to be predatory to humans. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/189qkuHbDP/
https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/toddler-attacked-by-bear-in-bc-backyard/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EerE3TkNJ/
The attacking bear is still alive. COS has a huge team attempting to track down and destroy the bear. Please call them and ask them to stop the witch hunt.
We want the bear to go to a wildlife rehabilitation centre instead of being hunted down and shot. The Predator Attack Team is trained in Wyoming where animal welfare is not the priority. While the immediate reaction is understandable when faced with the immediate threat to a child's life, the aftermath raises serious concerns about how such incidents are handled. The bear may actually be a mother herself.
The bear, an integral part of local wildlife, is now a victim of circumstances not entirely within their control. Bears, like all wildlife, are struggling to co-exist with the expanding human populations. As we continue to encroach on their natural habitats with our homes and cities, these conflicts are sadly becoming more frequent.
It is crucial to develop better strategies for the peaceful co-existence between humans and wildlife. There should be more emphasis on preventive measures that can be instituted to protect both the residents and the native animals. This includes better education on living in bear country, secure trash storage solutions to reduce attractants for bears, and non-lethal methods of managing wildlife encounters. Additionally, authorities need to explore and implement protocols that prioritize the use of tranquilizers and relocation over lethal measures.
If we act now, we can establish a humane intervention system that preserves both human safety and animal lives. We must urge local authorities, conservation officers, and wildlife management teams to adopt comprehensive and compassionate policies that reflect a commitment to protecting our community and our wildlife.
By signing this petition, you are advocating for a shift in wildlife management policy that prioritizes peaceful resolution and co-existence over unnecessary killing. Let us be steadfast in our actions to live harmoniously with nature and protect our children and wildlife alike.
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The Issue
In Maple Ridge, British Columbia, a shocking incident unfolded when a three-year-old girl was attacked by a bear right in the family's backyard. Andrea Lekei and her family were enjoying their day when tragedy struck. The toddler's cries were terrifying and the situation escalated quickly as Andrea's husband managed to fend off the bear. The father later used a compound bow to injure the bear, while the girl was being treated by the grandmother and mother. The RCMP shot at a random bear, who later died from his injury, and conservation officers set out to track and kill the animal who bit the girl. The police shot the wrong bear. And the police excuse is absolutely absurd. Both Lesley Fox of The Fur Bearers and a local veterinarian condemn the killing, stating police have no animal encounter training and no tranquilizers to relocate bears, only cruel bullets that main and slowly kill.
https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/maple-ridge/news/2026/08/4355781
https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/maple-ridge/news/2026/08/4355753
The Construction Officer Service is going after all the bears in the area to locate the "right one". This violent group of conservation officers on a quest to shoot this bear down is rightfully referred to as manpower. It is the epitome of toxic masculinity.
Call Conservation Officer Jordan Ferguson that this hunt is not acceptable. Jordan Ferguson Conservation Officer (Mission) Telephone: 877 952-7277
The bear was likely not predatory, as Maple Ridge is a city, and urban bears are not known to be predatory to humans. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/189qkuHbDP/
https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/toddler-attacked-by-bear-in-bc-backyard/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EerE3TkNJ/
The attacking bear is still alive. COS has a huge team attempting to track down and destroy the bear. Please call them and ask them to stop the witch hunt.
We want the bear to go to a wildlife rehabilitation centre instead of being hunted down and shot. The Predator Attack Team is trained in Wyoming where animal welfare is not the priority. While the immediate reaction is understandable when faced with the immediate threat to a child's life, the aftermath raises serious concerns about how such incidents are handled. The bear may actually be a mother herself.
The bear, an integral part of local wildlife, is now a victim of circumstances not entirely within their control. Bears, like all wildlife, are struggling to co-exist with the expanding human populations. As we continue to encroach on their natural habitats with our homes and cities, these conflicts are sadly becoming more frequent.
It is crucial to develop better strategies for the peaceful co-existence between humans and wildlife. There should be more emphasis on preventive measures that can be instituted to protect both the residents and the native animals. This includes better education on living in bear country, secure trash storage solutions to reduce attractants for bears, and non-lethal methods of managing wildlife encounters. Additionally, authorities need to explore and implement protocols that prioritize the use of tranquilizers and relocation over lethal measures.
If we act now, we can establish a humane intervention system that preserves both human safety and animal lives. We must urge local authorities, conservation officers, and wildlife management teams to adopt comprehensive and compassionate policies that reflect a commitment to protecting our community and our wildlife.
By signing this petition, you are advocating for a shift in wildlife management policy that prioritizes peaceful resolution and co-existence over unnecessary killing. Let us be steadfast in our actions to live harmoniously with nature and protect our children and wildlife alike.
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Petition created on August 10, 2026