The National Park Service (NPS) discovered the body of a missing hiker around noon on May 6 on a trail inside Glacier National Park in Montana, whom they suspect was killed by a bear in the first deadly encounter at the park in 28 years.
The man’s remains were found about 25 miles up the Mt. Brown Trail, about 50 feet off the side in a densely wooded area surrounded by fallen trees.
“His injuries are consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter,” the NPS reported May 7.
Wildlife experts and law enforcement are assessing the area for bear activity and any ongoing public safety concerns, NPS said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Federal authorities are withholding the identity of the hiker until the next-of-kin are notified. Hiker Anthony Pollio, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was reported missing May 4 after his vehicle was found parked at Lake McDonald Lodge, according to Fox Local.
Pollio indicated he planned to hike toward the Mt. Brown Fire Lookout, and his last known communication was sent around 8:20 p.m. Sunday, May 3.
Numerous search, rescue, and recovery teams worked together during the operation, NPS reported, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, Border Patrol, Malmstrom Air Force Base, U.S. Air Force Rescue, NPS, Montana Army National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Minuteman Aviation, and other state and local teams.
Park staff have temporarily closed a section of trails around where the incident happened to allow investigators room to work.
“Park staff are working to determine next steps based on field assessments and wildlife behavior monitoring,” the park stated. “Visitors are reminded to stay off closed trails.”
The park is home to about 1,000 bears, with around 600 black bears and 300 grizzlies, according to NPS.
The National Park Service has closed all trails starting from the Sperry Trailhead at the Lake McDonald Lodge to Mt. Brown, Snyder Lake, Sperry Chalet, and the Lincoln Lake Trail junction. The Lincoln Lake Trail from Snyder Ridge Trail junction to Lincoln Lake is also closed.
The last bear attack turned deadly at Glacier National Park was in 1998 in Two Medicine Valley, when park concession employee Craig Dahl, 26, was killed by a grizzly bear and her two cubs.
He had just arrived at the park and was hired to drive a “jammer” tour bus for the summer season and was found after he didn’t show up for work, according to the Glacier Park Foundation.
Dahl was hiking alone on the Scenic Point trail when he was attacked.
News of the apparent deadly bear attack came days after the May 5 report at Yellowstone National Park of two hikers sustaining injuries from one or more bears.
The hikers were on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful, according to park officials.
“This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2026,” NPS posted on X.
The last time a bear in the park killed someone was in 2015 in the Lake Village area, NPS stated.
Some areas of the park are temporarily closed pending an investigation of the bear attack.
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