Body
A hiker whose disappearance prompted a search in Glacier National Park in Montana was found dead Wednesday, and the National Park Service said the injuries appear consistent with a bear encounter. The agency said wildlife and law enforcement personnel are assessing the area for bear activity and any ongoing public safety concerns.
The National Park Service said in a written statement Thursday that “His injuries are consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter.” The agency added that “Wildlife and law enforcement personnel are currently assessing the area for bear activity and any ongoing public safety concerns.”
Authorities discovered the body in a densely wooded area about 50 feet (15 meters) off the Mt. Brown Trail. No other details were immediately released, but officials had been searching for Anthony Pollio, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after he disappeared Sunday.
While the investigation proceeds, designated trails leading from Lake McDonald Lodge were temporarily closed, according to the report. Park officials said they moved to close the routes as they look into what happened at the scene.
Glacier National Park is home to grizzly bears and black bears. The park service said a bear last August swatted a 34-year-old hiker, injuring her shoulder and arm, and that the bear, accompanied by two cubs, was probably surprised and acted defensively.
The latest incident marks what authorities described as the first deadly bear attack at the park in decades. The National Park Service did not provide further identifying information beyond what was included in its statement.