According to multiple sources, a 7-year-old child was attacked near Greenwich in North Castle, a town in New York’s Westchester County Tuesday morning around 11:45am. The incident was in the area of Hickory Kingdom Road. The child was sent to the hospital. The extent of his injuries was not yet known. Responding officers from North Castle Police shot and killed the bear.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
After news of the bear attack, Greenwich Police are reminding people that bear sightings are part of everyday life in Connecticut.
The below information was taken from the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment website, https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Black-Bear
Bears Near Your Home
In wilderness settings, bears usually avoid people. But, food attractants near homes can cause them to grow habituated to humans and disturbances, such as dogs and other noises. Bears are attracted by bird feeders, garbage, outdoor pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and berry-producing shrubs.
To avoid attracting bears:
- Never feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become bold, aggressive, and dangerous. This may lead to personal injury, property damage, and the need to euthanize problem animals.
- Remove bird feeders from late March through November. If a bear visits a bird feeder in winter, remove the feeder.
- Wait until the morning of collection before bringing out the trash. Add a few capfuls of ammonia to trash bags and garbage cans to mask food odors. Keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid and store in a garage or shed.
- Do not leave pet food outside overnight. Store livestock food in airtight containers.
- Do not put meats or sweet-smelling fruit rinds in compost piles. Lime can be sprinkled on the compost pile to reduce the smell and discourage bears.
- Thoroughly clean grills after use or store in a garage or shed.
- Encourage your neighbors to take similar precautions.
If You See a Bear:
If you see a bear on your property, you can either:
- Leave it alone and wait for it to leave
- Make loud noises from a safe distance to scare the bear away.
- Observe it from a distance.
- Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away.
- Never attempt to feed or attract bears.
- After the bear leaves the property, remove anything that may have attracted it to the area.
To Report a Sighting
You can report a bear sighting to the State DEEP, Report of Bear Sighting. In the event of an emergency, call 911 for the Greenwich Dispatch Center.