A young girl was attacked in Montana by a black bear that has since been euthanized, authorities said.
The animal attacked the girl inside a tent about 10 p.m. Sunday in a private campground south of Red Lodge in Carbon County, according to Chrissy Webb, a spokesperson for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The Northeast entrance to Yellowstone Park is about 70 miles south of Red Lodge.
Webb on Tuesday declined to release the age of the child or her condition.
NBC affiliate NBC Montana of Missoula reported the girl was 3 years old.
The animal was attracted to the campsite by unsecured items, Webb said.
There was garbage, a cooler and food around and inside the tent, according to a Tuesday statement from the wildlife agency.
“The black bear involved in the incident had no history of conflicts. However, the bear had likely become food-conditioned and human-habituated after accessing unsecured attractants in the area,” the statement said.
The bear was caught after wildlife personnel set up traps and snares at the campsite and the site was evacuated. Once captured, the bear was shot and killed, the agency said.
The child was hospitalized in Billings, which is about 60 miles northeast of Red Lodge.
The state’s department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said on X that a black bear was captured and had been euthanized as of Monday night.
“FWP believes it was the bear involved in the incident,” the post said.
The agency warns the public “Montana is bear country” and people may encounter grizzly or black bears. It suggests the public keep food and anything with a scent outside of tents, dispose garbage in bear-resistant bins and do not bury or burn garbage.
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