Bear Attack in Westchester County: Boy Hospitalized, Officials React

2023-08-23 07:04:18

NEW YORK — According to officials, a bear attacked a boy playing in a Westchester County woods, sending the boy to the hospital.

The 7-year-old boy was behind his home on Hickory Kingdom Road in Bedford around 11 a.m. Tuesday when he encountered the bear in the backyard, police said. A neighbor told our sister network NBC New York that he took a photo of the bear following hearing a scream.

North Castle police responded to the scene, shooting and killing the bear following it was left in the yard. The boy was treated by emergency medical services and taken to hospital, but the injuries were not considered serious, according to a news release.

“Our concern was that [el oso] It didn’t back down, so at one point it did move forward,” North Castle Police Chief Peter Simonsen said. “When there are so many humans, an animal would normally back off, and it didn’t.”

The state Department of Environmental Protection arrived at the scene and removed the bear’s carcass for rabies testing. It took four people to lift the bear, a male, and carry it away.

DEC and North Castle Police reviewed the area and reported no other immediate threats were found.

Neighbors were shocked to learn of the attack, even in what is considered a heavily wooded area.

“I’ve lived in this area for 13 years and I’ve never seen a bear. So I don’t take precautions,” said Amy Wilbur. “Maybe I should.”

Police said seeing a bear in the area around Bedford is rare, but since there are many woods in the area, DEC reminds residents not to leave pet food or open trash cans near homes. Authorities advise those who encounter a bear to back away slowly while raising their arms and yelling in an effort to scare it away.

1692787243
#Bear #Attacks #Child #York #NBC #York