A bear attack on a 35-year-old hiker in Glacier National Park has prompted a warning from the National Park Service (NPS): Be careful this fall. Bears are active.
Earlier this week, a hiker from Washington State was hiking Glacier’s Highline Trail with other people when a bear attacked him. In a press release, NPS suggests the man and his hiking party were surrounded by fog near the Grinnell Glacier Overlook trailhead when they came upon the bear and surprised it.
The bear—a male grizzly, according to NPS—bit the man on the leg below his knee. Others in the hiking party used bear spray to stop the attack and scare the bear away. The group then used a satellite communication device to call for help and bandaged the man’s wound while waiting for assistance.
“The hiking party was walking into the wind and faced foggy conditions, which could have contributed to the encounter,” said John Waller, supervisory wildlife biologist. “They were well prepared with bear spray, a satellite communication device, a first aid kit, were hiking as a group, and kept their cool when dealing with the bear.”
The hiker survived the encounter and his injuries, thanks to the swift action of his friends. NPS says they won’t take any action against the bear, since “it was a surprise encounter.” However, Glacier did close a section of Highline Trail.
Beware of Bears in the Fall
NPS took the opportunity to warn visitors that fall is an especially tricky time to recreate in bear country.
“[T]he fall season is when bears are more likely to be active due to hyperphagia,” NPS writes in its press release. “As bears prepare for the long season of winter, during which they will hibernate, they need to eat as much as they can to prepare to go months without food.”
Best Bear Sprays
Learn more about bear sprays here.
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NPS reports there are currently several other closures in Glacier due to bear activity. Please carry bear spray when visiting places where bears live and be particularly cautious in the fall.