A 33-year-old man from Florida has been killed by a bear at Glacier National Park in Montana, marking the first fatal bear attack at the park since 1998. The National Park Service (NPS) confirmed the identity of the victim as Anthony Pollio of Davie, Florida, in a news release issued on May 9. The incident occurred during a hiking trip that began earlier in the week, prompting a multi-day search operation by park rangers and local rescue crews.
Search and Recovery Operations
Pollio was last heard from on May 3 after communicating his intention to hike toward the Mount Brown Fire Lookout. His final message was sent at approximately 8:20 p.m. local time. The park was notified of his disappearance on the afternoon of May 4. Search efforts were concentrated in the Mount Brown and Snyder Lakes areas, along with adjacent trail corridors, utilizing aerial resources and local rescue teams.
Search and rescue crews discovered Pollio's body at approximately 12 p.m. local time on May 6. The body was located about 50 feet off the Mount Brown Trail in a densely wooded area with downed timber. Investigators also recovered some of Pollio's personal items approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead. According to the NPS, the injuries sustained were consistent with those from a bear encounter, confirmed by Orlando Ledger.
Investigation and Park Status
Authorities are currently investigating the sequence of events leading to the encounter. The NPS stated that evidence suggests the incident was a surprise encounter. As part of the ongoing investigation, a section of the trail where the incident occurred remains temporarily closed. The agency has reminded visitors to stay off closed trails while staff determine next steps based on field assessments and wildlife behavior monitoring.
This event marks a significant gap in the park's recent history. The last deadly bear attack at Glacier National Park occurred on May 17, 1998, when a solo hiker named Craig Dahl was attacked in the Two Medicine region. Since the park's establishment, there have been 10 confirmed grizzly bear-related fatalities between 1967 and 1998. The last time a bear injured a human at Glacier was in August 2025, involving a woman near Lake Janet, more details at DW.
Regional Bear Activity and Safety Guidelines
The fatality at Glacier National Park coincides with other bear incidents across the United States. In early May, two hikers were injured in a bear attack at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Additionally, in April, two U.S. Army soldiers were injured during a bear encounter at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park reported a spike in aggressive bear encounters.
To mitigate risks in bear country, the National Park Service recommends several safety protocols. Visitors are advised to stay 100 yards away from bears at all times and carry bear spray, knowing how to use it effectively. Hikers should remain alert for signs of bear activity, such as fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites, and make noise while hiking. The NPS advises hiking in groups of three or more people and avoiding hiking at dawn, dusk, or night when bears are most active. Running from a bear is strictly discouraged.
