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3-year-old girl attacked by bear while sleeping at Montana campground

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the bear attacked the child while in a tent.

BILLINGS, Mont. — A 3-year-old girl from Loon Lake, Washington, was attacked by a black bear Sunday night at a private campground south of Red Lodge, Montana, off U.S. Highway 212. 

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the bear attacked the child while they were sleeping in a tent. The 3-year-old, identified as Madison, was taken to a medical facility in Billings. Their injury status is unknown at this time. 

According to our CBS partner in Billings, Montana, Madison is supposed to be released from the hospital soon, but her family says she still has a long recovery process ahead of her. 

KREM 2 later learned that the 3-year-old was eventually released from the hospital.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks say the bear was captured Monday afternoon and shot and killed. They added, evidence at the site matched the physical characteristics of the bear and FWP believes the bear killed was the bear involved in the attack

The black bear involved in the incident had no history of conflicts, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. It's believed that the bear was drawn to the area due to unsecured attractants. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks say the bear had likely become food-conditioned and human-habituated after accessing "unsecured attractants" in the area. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to remind people who may encounter grizzly or black bears in Montana to keep food and anything with a scent out of tents, dispose of garbage in bear-resistant bins, and follow local land management agency food storage orders. 

A GoFundMe has been created to help support Madison's recovery. 

KREM 2 will continue to update this story as more information about the victim is released. 

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