A young girl was hospitalized after a black bear attacked and injured her while she was inside a tent at a private campground near Custer National Forest in Montana, authorities say.
The incident took place on the evening of Aug. 11 at a campsite located south of Red Lodge.
Around 10 p.m., a subadult black bear attacked the tent while the child was inside, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) said in a news release. The child’s age or gender was not immediately disclosed.
The injured child was transported to a medical facility in Billings.
Following the attack, FWP immediately dispatched game wardens and bear specialists to the scene. They set up a bear trap while they worked with the campground owner to evacuate the campground, which took until Aug. 12 morning.
When everyone had been evacuated, the FWP team set a bunch of additional traps and snares.
The bear was captured in the afternoon and was shot and killed.
“FWP believes it was the bear involved in the incident but is continuing with capture efforts at the site until tomorrow afternoon for due diligence,” the FWP said in an Aug. 12 update.
The investigation into the incident revealed that “unsecured attractants,” including garbage, a cooler, and human food, were found both around and inside the tent where the attack occurred.
FWP noted that the black bear involved in the attack had no prior history of conflicts with humans, but it is believed that the bear had likely become “food-conditioned and human-habituated” through gaining access to unsecured food remains in the area.
The agency confirmed that the on-site evidence, including physical characteristics, matched the bear that was captured, indicating that it was indeed the same animal responsible for the attack.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by unsecured food and waste in bear country and the importance of taking precautions to avoid attracting wildlife to campsites.
“Montana is bear country. People should be prepared to encounter grizzly or black bears,” FWP said, suggesting a number of precautions to help avoid negative bear encounters while camping, such as keeping food or anything with a food scent out of tents in separate, certified bear-resistant bins, and to do the same with garbage.
“Do not bury or burn garbage,” FWP warned.
In case you do run into a bear, the National Park Service has several suggestions to keep in mind:
- Talk in a low, steady voice, as screams or sudden movements may trigger an attack.
- Stand your ground, make yourself as large as possible, slowly waving your arms to identify yourself as a human; most bears do not want to attack you, but want to be left alone.
- Pick up small children immediately upon sight.
- Travel in groups and do not give bears access to food, as this will embolden them.
- Be extra cautious if you see cubs. Mother bears are very protective of their young, so never interact with them, and avoid standing between a mother and her cubs. If you have to move, do so sideways, this is considered non-threatening to the bear and lets you keep an eye on it.