Girl bit by bear gets dozens of internal, external stitches

GRAND JUNCTION, CO (AP) — A doctor treating a 5-year-old Colorado girl attacked by a bear outside her home says she received dozens of internal and external stitches but is not suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Pediatric surgeon Charles Breaux Jr. told reporters Sunday that the bear bit the unidentified girl on her back side but she suffered no fractures or injuries to her brain or other organs.

The unidentified girl was attacked early Sunday near Grand Junction, about 240 miles west of Denver, when she went outside to check on what she thought were noises made by her dog.

Her mother went outside when she heard screaming.

The mother screamed at the bear, which dropped the girl.

Authorities say the mother’s move may have saved her daughter’s life.