It’s what bears do. There’s not a lot of habitat for them anymore, especially in Southern California.
They have to eat. I don’t think it went into the tent to get the kid, specifically. I’m sure it was smelling something beside the kid.
The rangers should have known the bear was there. They aren’t that hard to track. You don’t have to see the bear. They make pretty good tracks. I see tracks and I start taking precautions.
At least have a sign in the campground that said there were bears possible and to take the appropriate measures like the most important one...don’t sleep with your food or anywhere near it.
Obviously you know nothing about bears. There are very stealthy animals, and have 1000x times the sense of smell as you do, plus their hearing is excellent. If all it takes for you to take precautions is to see bear tracks, then you should never go into the woods. Bears leave tracks everywhere. It doesn't mean they are in them. It's when you hear them you should be taking precautions, real quick. And if you start following bear tracks, you could find yourself in a very difficult position. Cubs don't walk right along side their mother, often they are barely within her vision. Following a set of bear tracks can lead you right to the bear making them, and often between her and her cubs. Then you are in big trouble.
If that happens, start backing away, don't run, don't turn around, back up slowly. If she comes at you swatting at the ground, hold your ground, keep backing up slowly. She'll be clicking her jaws as she's smacking up dirt and brush. If you manage to back up enough and are no longer between her and her cubs, she'll stop, but if she charges the only thing you can do is curl up in an ball and play dead. if your lucky she'll just bat you around a couple times.
If it's a grizzly, Say your prayers.