A young girl was hospitalized after being injured by a black bear while inside her tent at a private campground near Custer National Forest in Montana, according to authorities.

The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Sunday when a subadult female black bear attacked the tent where the girl was staying, as reported by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) on Tuesday. While the child’s exact age and gender were not disclosed by the authorities, NBC Montana from Missoula stated that the child was a 3-year-old girl, based on information from FWP spokesperson Chrissy Webb.

After the attack, game wardens and bear specialists from FWP arrived at the scene, evacuated the campground, and set traps to capture the bear.

The injured child was then taken to a medical facility in Billings; however, details about her injuries and condition were not immediately available. The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has not yet responded to YSL News’s request for an update on her status.

The bear was caught the next afternoon, August 12, and subsequently euthanized, according to FWP.

‘Unsecured food sources’ discovered near the campsite

FWP reported finding unsecured food items, such as garbage, a cooler, and human food, around and inside the tent involved in the attack. They noted that the black bear had no known history of aggressive behavior.

However, FWP speculated that the bear might have become “food-conditioned and human-habituated” by accessing unsecured food sources in the area.

Evidence at the scene supported the conclusion that the bear euthanized was indeed the one responsible for the attack.

Advice for bear encounters

The National Park Service recommends the following steps if you encounter a bear:

• Speak in a calm voice; avoid screaming or sudden movements.
• Make yourself look larger.
• Travel in groups, and pick up small children if you see a bear.
• If a bear enters your yard, stay indoors and ensure everyone is safe inside before making noise to scare it away.
• If you spot cubs, keep your distance; mother bears are very protective. Do not approach or touch them.
• If attacked, you can throw objects at the bear and fight back.
• Store food, garbage, and any items that might attract bears securely.