close
close

Yiamastaverna

Trusted News & Timely Insights

Black bear that mauled 3-year-old girl near Yellowstone was euthanized
Washington

Black bear that mauled 3-year-old girl near Yellowstone was euthanized

A A black bear that allegedly mauled a three-year-old girl near Yellowstone National Park over the weekend has been euthanized, according to government officials.

The girl was sleeping in a tent at a private campground between Yellowstone and the town of Red Lodge, Montana, when the bear attacked her around 10 p.m. Sunday. The girl was taken to a medical facility in Billings for treatment of her injuries. In the meantime, the campground was evacuated and snares and traps were set.

The next day, wildlife officials captured the black bear, described as a subadult female, at the campground and shot it. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), “The black bear involved in the incident had no history of conflict. However, the bear was likely habituated to food and humans after finding unsecured lures in the area. Evidence at the scene was consistent with the bear’s physical characteristics and FWP believes the bear killed was the bear involved in the attack.”

According to FWP, investigators found human food, coolers and garbage in and around the tent where the girl was attacked. When wild animals are exposed to human food and garbage, they may associate humans with food and lose their fear of approaching humans.

Although black bears are generally considered far less aggressive than grizzly bears, which also live in the Yellowstone region, the incident highlights the importance of keeping food and other smelly items safe while camping to reduce the risk of negative encounters with wildlife.

At this time, no information about the child’s condition has been released publicly.

FWP received assistance in this incident from the Red Lodge Police Department, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, and Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.

Featured image: A black bear photographed in Yellowstone National Park in 2015. Photo by Neal Herbert

Disclosure for Partners

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek receives a percentage of any product or service you purchase through the links in the articles or advertisements. The purchaser pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase supports The Trek’s ongoing goal of providing you with quality advice and information on backpacking. Thank you for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *