Black Bear That Mauled 3-Year-Old Girl Near Yellowstone Has Been Euthanized

A black bear that reportedly mauled a three-year-old girl near Yellowstone National Park over the weekend has been euthanized, according to state 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. on Sunday. The girl was transported to a medical facility in Billings to be treated for her injuries. Meanwhile, the campground was evacuated and snares and traps were set.

Wildlife officials captured and shot the black bear, described as a subadult female, at the campground the following day. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), “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. Evidence at the site matched the physical characteristics of the bear and FWP believes the bear killed was the bear involved in the attack.”

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

Although black bears are usually considered to be far less aggressive than grizzlies, which also live in the Yellowstone area, the incident highlights the importance of securing food and other smellables when camping to mitigate the risk of negative wildlife encounters. 

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

FWP received support from the Red Lodge Police Department, Wyoming Game & Fish Department and the Carbon County Sherriff’s Office on this incident.

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