Over the weekend, a black bear attacked and injured a 3-year-old girl inside a tent at a private campground in Montana, just north of Yellowstone National Park, according to state wildlife officials.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Sunday at a campground located south of Red Lodge. The young girl was quickly transported to a hospital in Billings following the attack. As of Tuesday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks department did not have an update on her condition, according to game warden Randy Hutzenbiler.
In response to the incident, the campground was evacuated, and traps were set up in the surrounding area. On Monday afternoon, a bear suspected to have been involved in the attack was captured and euthanized, Hutzenbiler confirmed. The agency continues to monitor the area with additional traps.
“There were attractants in the area,” Hutzenbiler noted, referring to food and unsecured garbage that may have drawn the bear to the site.
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Wildlife officials advise campers to keep food, garbage, and any scented items out of tents and securely stored in bear-resistant containers or vehicles to prevent such encounters.
