OPP looks to speak with potential witness, sets up animal traps after suspected animal attack in Quadeville, Ont.

After a girl was attacked overnight Monday, police are now saying they believe her injuries were caused by an animal. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

Animal traps have been set up around an Ottawa Valley community as the investigation continues into a suspected animal attack that left a girl with serious injuries.

Ontario Provincial Police said on June 24, officers responded to reports that a child had been found along Quadeville Road in Quadeville, Ont. at approximately 12:30 a.m. with serious injuries.

The eight-year-old girl was transported to CHEO, where she remains in serious but stable condition.

“While investigators suspect this to have been an animal attack, further testing and analysis is required,” the OPP said in a media release on June 25.

On Friday, the OPP said investigators are “continuing efforts to identify the cause of the attack,” and are working with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and experts in animal attacks.

“Parents in the Quadeville area are encouraged to remain vigilant and keep their small children under close supervision while outdoors,” the OPP said. “Animal traps have been set in the Quadeville area by the MNR as a precautionary measure.”

Potential witness

Investigators are also looking to identify a potential witness who was in the Quadeville area prior to the incident. Police say the individual is “not a subject of the investigation but may have information that could assist the case.”

The individual is described as a man in his 60s, with grey and white hair and possibly white facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black leather jacket with a white motorcycle helmet and owns a grey or black motorcycle described as a Ducati or Suzuki style. Police say he used to live in the Killaloe or Bonnechere Valley area.

Anyone with information or has doorbell or surveillance video can contact the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Quadeville is located 160 km west of Ottawa and 75 km of Renfrew.