Grizzly attacks Glacier hiker

A hiker from Minnesota was attacked and injured by a grizzly bear Friday in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park.

The 50-year-old hiker from St. Paul, Minn., was hiking alone on the trail from Many Glacier to Piegan Pass when he rounded a bend and encountered a sow grizzly with one subadult cub.

The hiker was carrying bear spray but was unable to deploy it before the bear attacked, according to a news release from Glacier Park. Initial reports indicated the hiker was making noise as he walked.

The man sustained bites to his left thigh and forearm before the bear grabbed his foot, shook him, released him and then left.

The man hiked back toward Many Glacier, encountering a naturalist ranger leading a hike. The ranger notified the dispatch center while the man continued to the Many Glacier Ranger Station. He was treated for his injuries there and then transported to the Blackfeet Community Hospital in Browning by Babb Ambulance.

The trail from Piegan Pass to Feather Run Falls has been closed while rangers investigate the incident.

Glacier Park officials advise hikers to carry bear spray and know how to use it, and hikers are urged to travel in groups and make noise when hiking.

It was the first grizzly mauling in the park since June 2009 when a Kalispell man who was running on the Lake McDonald Valley Trail had a close encounter with a bear about a mile and a half from the Avalanche trailhead.

Thomas Narison said he heard noises behind him as he was running and turned to see two grizzly bears approaching, one of which came in his direction. He was able to kick the bear but fell down. He was bitten twice but managed to fight the bear off by kicking and poking it with sticks.

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