(Scypre.com) – A 3-year-old girl was mauled and injured by a black bear at a private campground in Montana, just north of Yellowstone National Park, over the weekend, according to state wildlife officials.
The incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday at a campground south of Red Lodge.
The young girl was immediately transported to a hospital in Billings, although there has been no update on her condition as of Tuesday, according to game warden Randy Hutzenbiler.
Following the attack, the campground was evacuated for safety. Wildlife officials set traps in the area and successfully captured a bear believed to be involved in the attack.
The bear was euthanized on Monday afternoon. However, additional traps remain in the area as a precautionary measure, Hutzenbiler confirmed.
Hutzenbiler mentioned that there were “attractants in the area,” which typically refer to items like food and unsecured garbage that can lure bears into human-occupied spaces.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks agency strongly advises campers to keep food, garbage, and any scented items out of tents and to store them in bear-resistant containers or vehicles to prevent similar incidents in the future.