Hiker Likely Killed by Bear in Glacier National Park

A Florida man hiking in Glacier National Park was likely attacked and killed by a bear. (Photo by Tom Tietz)

A hiker from Florida was found dead in Glacier National Park after authorities say he likely died in a bear attack, marking the park’s first fatal bear encounter in nearly three decades.

According to usatoday.com, the victim, 33-year-old Anthony Pollio, had been hiking alone on the Mt. Brown Trail near Lake McDonald when he disappeared during an evening trek to a historic fire lookout.

Pollio, described by family members as an experienced outdoorsman and hunter, had traveled to Montana to hike the park’s backcountry. Before heading farther up the trail on Sunday, May 3, he reportedly left a voicemail for his father, saying that he loved him and planned to watch the sunset from the mountaintop lookout.

When Pollio failed to return and family members could no longer contact him, park officials launched a search-and-rescue operation. Rangers and emergency crews began combing the heavily wooded terrain around the trail system late Sunday evening, focusing on the remote upper portions of the mountain path.

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On May 6, searchers located Pollio’s body approximately 2.5 miles up the trail and about 50 feet off the main hiking route. Authorities said the injuries found on the body were consistent with those typically seen in a bear encounter, though investigators have not publicly confirmed which species was responsible.

Family members believe the attack may have involved a grizzly bear. Officials temporarily closed portions of the Mt. Brown Trail while wildlife specialists investigated the scene and evaluated whether the bear posed an ongoing danger to visitors.

The tragedy has drawn national attention, not only because of the rarity of fatal bear attacks in Glacier National Park, but also because Pollio appeared to have taken common safety precautions. According to relatives, he was carrying bear spray during the hike, a standard deterrent recommended for hikers traveling through bear country.

The incident comes during a week of heightened bear activity across the Rocky Mountain region. The fatal bear encounter at Glacier National Park occurred during the same week that two hikers were injured in a bear attack at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, according to the park service.

Park officials continue urging visitors to remain alert while hiking in bear habitat by carrying bear spray, making noise on trails, avoiding solo hikes when possible, and staying aware in dense vegetation or low-visibility areas. The investigation into Pollio’s death remains ongoing as wildlife authorities work to determine exactly what happened on the mountain trail.