Glacier National Park Bear Attack: What Officials Know So Far
Search and rescue crews recovered the body of a missing hiker Wednesday in Glacier National Park, Montana, with injuries officials say are consistent with a bear encounter. The incident marks the first fatal Glacier National Park bear attack in nearly three decades, according to a National Park Service press release.
The Victim: A Florida Man Hiking to Mount Brown Fire Lookout
The victim was found around noon on May 6 along the Mt. Brown Trail, roughly 2.5 miles from the trailhead and about 50 feet off the path in a densely wooded area with downed timber. Wildlife and law enforcement personnel are currently assessing the area for bear activity and any ongoing public safety concerns, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The National Park Service has identified the victim as Anthony Pollio, 33, of Davie, Florida. Pollio had communicated plans on Sunday, May 3, to hike to the Mount Brown Fire Lookout — a steep, 10-mile out-and-back route ascending more than 4,000 feet, with numerous switchbacks and blind corners that increase the risk of surprise wildlife encounters. Park officials were notified of Pollio’s disappearance Monday afternoon and initiated search and rescue operations. His vehicle was located at Lake McDonald Lodge.
While the sequence of events leading to the bear encounter remains under investigation, the NPS said evidence suggests it was a surprise encounter.
Glacier National Park Bear Attack Ends 28-Year Fatality-Free Streak
The last human fatality caused by a bear in Glacier National Park occurred in 1998 on the Scenic Point Trail in the Two Medicine Valley. There have been 11 fatal bear attacks in the park’s history, not including this week’s incident. The last time a bear injured a human in the park was in August 2025.
Glacier National Park Bear Attack Comes as Yellowstone Reports Maulings
The discovery comes days after two hikers, ages 15 and 28, were seriously injured in a separate bear attack at Yellowstone National Park and airlifted by helicopter. Yellowstone officials said a female grizzly bear with two or three cubs was believed to be involved in that encounter.
The section of the Mt. Brown Trail where the incident occurred has been temporarily closed. Park staff are determining next steps based on field assessments and wildlife behavior monitoring. Visitors are reminded to stay off closed trails and to check the park’s Trail Status Reports page for updated information.
The multi-agency search and recovery operation drew resources from across Montana and beyond. Cooperating agencies included Flathead County Search and Rescue, North Valley Search and Rescue, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Minuteman Aviation, Civil Air Patrol, Montana Army National Guard, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service, and NPS staff, among others.
Fatal bear attacks in North America are rare, though they have occurred across a wide range of settings, from national parks and backcountry wilderness to campsites and remote worksites. Three species are responsible for the majority of recorded fatalities: the black bear, the brown bear (including its grizzly subspecies), and the polar bear. Grizzly bear incidents have historically been concentrated in Alaska, northern and western Canada, and portions of the Rocky Mountains, while black bear attacks reflect that species’ broader geographic range. Most wilderness fatalities have occurred when a victim was alone or with only one other person. Glacier National Park itself has seen multiple fatal attacks dating back decades, with incidents recorded in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s before the last confirmed death in 1998. If the current investigation confirms a bear as the cause of death, it will be among only a handful of fatal attacks recorded across the continent in any given year.
