Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Grise Fiord (Aug 06/01) - Regrettable but inevitable. That's the word after a muskox gored a Grise Fiord girl last Wednesday.

The girl was treated at the health centre and flown to Baffin Regional Hospital for treatment.

The animal was later put down.

Early reports from the Iviq Hunters and Trappers Association said a handful of children may have provoked the incident by teasing and throwing rocks at the animal, which had been wandering around the outskirts of town.

Hamlet senior administrator Robert Sheaves would not make a connection between a lack of recreation facilities and the attack.

"Kids get bored," Sheaves said.

The community's approximately 80 youth have access to a gym, summer youth leader and recreation activities offered as late as 1 a.m., he said. "It's impossible to keep everyone entertained 100 per cent of the time."

The injured youth was expected to fly home this week.