RED LODGE, Mont. — A three-year-old girl was attacked by a black bear at a campground northeast of Yellowstone National Park the evening of Sunday, Aug. 11.
At around 10 p.m. Sunday night, a subadult black bear mauled a girl inside a tent at a private campground south of Red Lodge, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The child was transported to Billings for medical attention.
A trap was set for the bear that night, and by the following morning, on Monday, Aug. 12, the campground had been evacuated, allowing officials to set more traps and snares in the area.
The bear that was believed to have been involved in the attack was captured by Monday afternoon and was euthanized, according to FWP, which responded to the incident with support from the Red Lodge Police Department, Wyoming Game & Fish Department and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.
FWP said it found bear attractants around and inside the tent where the encounter occurred, including garbage, a cooler and food.
The bear that attacked the child had no history of human conflict, according to FWP.
“The bear had likely become food-conditioned and human-habituated after accessing unsecured attractants in the area,” FWP said in a statement.
The incident serves as a reminder to practice bear safety while camping, FWP cautions. This includes keeping food or anything with a scent out of tents, disposing of garbage in bear-resistant bins and properly storing food in a bear box, hard-sided vehicle, a bear-resistant container or behind temporary electric fencing.
