GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The 5-year-old girl who was attacked by a black bear early Sunday morning outside of Grand Junction was released from St. Mary’s Medical Center Friday after five days in the hospital.
Kimberly Cyr received nearly six-dozen stitches following the attack, which happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday outside her home near Orchard Mesa. The hospital posted a picture of her to its Facebook page Friday saying she had been under care of pediatric surgeon Dr. Charles Breaux all week and was ready to be released.
“Her injuries have healed sufficiently for the approval of her discharge from the hospital,” St. Mary’s wrote. “She continues the process of healing in the care of her family and medical caregivers.”
Colorado parks and wildlife officials on Thursday confirmed, following a necropsy, that the 2-year-old male black bear officers shot and killed early Monday morning was the same bear that attacked Cyr.
Cyr’s mother originally reported that her daughter had gone outside to investigate noises she thought were coming from her dog. The sheriff’s office said later this week that Cyr had sat down by the back door of the home when the bear discovered her and sniffed her. When she stood up to go back inside, the bear grabbed her and “ripped her from the door.”
That’s when her mother heard screams, went outside and yelled out the bear, which dropped the girl. Her parents will not face charges, authorities said.
St. Mary’s Medical Center also delivered a message from Cyr’s family on Friday upon her release.
“The family thanks the public for their support and outpouring of concern and continues to ask for the respect of their privacy,” the hospital said. “Kimberly is in good health and good spirits!”
