Hiker injured in Glacier grizzly mauling suffered broken arm

A hiker injured by a charging grizzly bear in Glacier National Park last week suffered a broken arm, park officials reported Tuesday.

The 32-year-old man sustained the injury on Thursday, May 28 in what park officials described as a surprise encounter on the Grinnell Glacier Trail in the Many Glacier area. The trail was closed following the attack and remained closed Tuesday.

The encounter occurred at about 12:45 p.m., roughly 3.5 miles up the trail on a snowfield, according to a media release. The sound of loud rushing water made it difficult for the hiker and the grizzly to detect one another, park officials determined. The bear charged and fractured the man's arm. 

Park officials did not indicate if the hiker was carrying or deployed bear spray during the encounter.

Nearby hikers responded to provide medical aid and called for help, as the bear moved away from the area.

Glacier Park dispatchers received the SOS alert at 12:51 p.m., and the ALERT medical helicopter in Kalispell was sent to the scene. The injured hiker was transported by air to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell.

The Grinnell Glacier Trail will reopen after park staff determines it is safe to do so, the release stated. The release did not indicate whether any actions would be taken regarding the grizzly involved in the attack.

The incident follows a fatal bear attack May 3 on Glacier's west side. 

In that incident, search and rescue crews discovered 33-year-old Anthony Pollio's body about 50 feet off the Mount Brown Trail after the Florida man went missing while hiking on May 3. Evidence at the scene pointed to a surprise bear encounter. The species of bear involved in the attack remains undetermined. 

A canister of bear spray was found near Pollio's body, but it was unknown if the spray can was his or was deployed.

There have been 12 fatal bear attacks in the park's history, including the Mount Brown fatality. Prior to that incident, the last fatality caused by a bear occurred in 1998 on the Scenic Point Trail in the Two Medicine Valley.

Hikers who encounter a bear are advised to stay calm, speak in a steady voice, back away slowly and not make sudden movements. Visitors should report bear encounters to park staff as soon as it is safe to do so. 

Stay Safe in Bear Country

Never approach a bear.  

Stay alert and avoid headphones on trails.  

Hike in groups when possible.  

Make noise near streams, dense vegetation and blind corners.  

Store food, trash and scented items properly.  

Carry bear spray.  

Never run from a bear.