GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. –  Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating a bear attack on a child in East Orchard Mesa, above the Colorado River corridor, in Grand Junction overnight.   The victim’s mother told CPW officers she heard screaming at approximately 2:30 a.m., Sunday morning. When she went outside to investigate, she witnessed a large black bear dragging her five-year-old daughter. She told CPW officers the bear dropped the girl after she began screaming at the animal. According to the woman, the girl had gone outside to investigate noises in the yard she may have thought was her dog.

The victim is at St. Mary’s hospital with serious injuries. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are actively tracking the bear with the aid of federal wildlife services personnel. Local residents may see heavy law enforcement presence throughout the area, including hounds.

Residents are asked to secure trash, keep pet food inside and immediately report any bear sightings in this neighborhood, or any residential area.

AS OF 5:00 P.M. MOUNTAIN TIME, COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE HAS NOT LOCATED THE BEAR INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT. CPW OFFICERS HAVE SET THREE BEAR TRAPS IN THE AREA AND WILL ACTIVELY MONITOR THE TRAPS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. IF CAPTURED, THE BEAR WILL BE DESTROYED, AND THE CARCASS WILL BE SENT TO CPW’S WILDLIFE HEALTH LABORATORY IN FORT COLLINS, COLO. CPW IS NOT RELEASING OR CONFIRMING THE NAME OF THE VICTIM, OR THE IDENTITY OF THE FAMILY.