A 5-year-old Colorado girl is hospitalized with serious injuries after she was attacked by a bear outside her home, reports the Aspen Times. The attack happened early Sunday near Grand Junction.
The girl’s mother told state wildlife officers that her daughter went outside to investigate noises she thought might be related to her dog around 2:30 am.
The mother said she then heard screaming and went out to find her daughter being dragged by a large black bear. She says the bear dropped the girl after she began screaming at the animal. The girl suffered serious injuries to her neck and the back of her head, and is at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction and in a ‘fair condition’.
“We intend to catch this bear,” said agency spokesman, Mike Porras. “Based on their behavior, it’s possible it will come back to the area,” he added.
The animal will be euthanized if caught, as officials believe it will remain a threat to humans, and then sent to Fort Collins facility for necropsy.
Residents are being asked to secure trash, keep pet food inside and immediately report any sightings in this neighborhood, or any other residential area.
