Grizzly maulings deemed 'defensive'

An investigation into a grizzly bear mauling that severely injured two people in the Many Glacier Valley is complete, with Glacier National Park officially concluding that the incident involved "a defensive action by a female grizzly with two cubs."

"As this was a defensive attack, no management action will be taken against the bears," a park press release on the investigation states. "This determination was made in accordance with Glacier's Bear Management Guidelines."

Rangers had little choice with management actions, since the bears could not be located in the days following the Aug. 25 attack, and if a sow with cubs had been located, it would have been difficult to determine if they were the bears involved in the mauling.

The report reveals very little new information about the incident, which survivors Johan Otter and his daughter Jenna have detailed in media interviews, including national television news programs.

After the incident, Glacier officials refused media requests to release the names and hometowns of the victims, saying the victims had explicitly asked that their names not be released.

Thursday's press release on the incident provided their names officially for the first time.

The park's report found that the Otters, of Escondido, Calif., provided investigating rangers with "somewhat conflicting accounts" of the incident, "as is common in traumatic events."

The two were hiking up the Grinnell Glacier Trail near Thunderbird Falls when they rounded a blind corner. Jenna Otter was the first to see the bears, but her father was the first to be attacked.

"He actively struggled with the sow and tried to keep its attention on him in an effort to protect his daughter," the press release states. "At some point in the incident, Mr. Otter rolled or fell off the trail, coming to a stop about 65 feet down from the trail. He then climbed a few feet towards the trail to the point at which he was found. Ms. Otter also rolled or fell off the trail, ending up about 30 vertical feet below the trail."

At some point Jenna Otter also was attacked by the bear, but "it is unclear exactly when in the sequence of events" that happened, the report found.

"Although Ms. Otter attempted to use bear pepper spray at the onset of the encounter, no bear pepper spray was dispensed during the attack due to her lack of familiarity with the spray's operation," specifically the need to release the safety mechanism on the spray bottle, the report concludes.

"The attack was relatively quick; one victim told rangers the attack lasted about one minute in duration and the other victim estimated the incident lasted approximately five minutes," the report says. "In either case, the family group of bears left the area immediately, very likely when the mother bear neutralized a perceived threat."

The Otters were eventually found by hikers who provided some first aid in the rugged area below the trail.

"Due to the nature and extent of the victim's injuries, as well as their precarious location, a difficult and technical rescue was required," the press release states.

After the Otters were stabilized by park rangers and a paramedic with Kalispell Regional Medical Center's ALERT helicopter, they were flown to a landing area in the Many Glacier Valley, where they were further treated and stabilized for air transport to the Kalispell hospital.

Glacier Superintendent Mick Holm praised the efforts of the rescuers.

"This rescue was an unbelievable ordeal for the Otters as well as for the many park employees, visitors, ALERT staff and KRMC personnel alike," Holm said. "I am very grateful to the scores of people who assisted in helping get the Otters to safety. I am equally proud and appreciative of the remarkable cooperation and teamwork demonstrated by the medical services surrounding the park and the staff."

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com