Bear attacks child in North Castle NY; animal euthanized

BANKSVILLE – A bear attacked a child on Hickory Kingdom Road in the town of North Castle Tuesday morning, town police said.

According to town police, they got a 911 call from a resident on that street at 11:16 a.m., saying a bear had just attacked their child on their property.

Emergency medical services workers were dispatched from the Banksville and Armonk fire departments, as well as a Westchester County paramedic.

North Castle police and animal control officers also responded to the home.

The child was given initial treatment by emergency medical service workers at the scene and then taken to a local hospital.

Police said the bear remained in the rear yard of the house where the attack occurred and continued to pose a danger to first responders and residents in the area.

The bear was euthanized by police officers on the scene.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation also responded to the scene, took possession of the bear and took it to the Westchester County Department of Health for testing.

Police said a preliminary evaluation of the child’s injuries did not indicate they were life-threatening. Police did not say whether the child was a girl or a boy.