10-year-old boy attacked by black bear at grandparent's Connecticut home

A 10-year-old boy is recovering after a 250-pound black bear attacked him at his grandparent's home in Connecticut.

The boy was attacked around 11 a.m. Sunday in the town of Morris in the western part of the state, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said in a statement to USA TODAY.

James Butler, the boy's grandfather, told the Republican-American of Waterbury his grandson was playing near a trampoline when the bear emerged from thick woods behind the house.

“I heard him yell ‘bear’ and when I looked up, I saw his leg in the bear’s mouth and the bear trying to drag him across the lawn,” Butler said.

Butler, who uses a wheelchair, wheeled his chair toward the bear and threw a metal bar at its head, he told the newspaper.

The bear released the boy but then grabbed the child a second time and used its claws to try to roll the boy onto his back, the grandfather said.

A neighbor alerted by the boy's screams raced over and scared the bear off by brandishing a pipe and yelling, Butler said.

Once Butler and his grandson were safely inside the house, the bear returned, walking up a wheelchair ramp and peering at them through screen door, Butler said.

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The child was taken to a local hospital for his injuries, which officials said did not appear to be life-threatening. Butler said his grandson suffered a puncture wound to one thigh, bite marks on a foot and ankle and claw marks on his back.

Officials said the bear was still near the scene when authorities arrived and was euthanized by Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police.

DEEP said they will have an update on the incident Monday afternoon. 

Contributing: Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY; Associated Press

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

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