A 33-year-old man from South Florida has died following an apparent bear attack at Glacier National Park in Montana. Arthur Pollio confirmed to NBC6 on Saturday that his son, Anthony Edward Pollio, was on a two-week road trip with a friend when he went missing in the national park. The incident marks the first deadly bear attack in Montana since 1998, according to reports.
The Final Journey
Anthony Edward Pollio was traveling through the central United States, visiting Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Wyoming, before arriving in Montana. His father stated that he believes his son pulled directly into Glacier National Park. Before disappearing, Pollio had embarked on an advanced trail hike. Arthur Pollio recalled receiving a text message from his son that evening, in which Anthony described hiking up a mountain and noted that it was "wild out here." The father received a final message saying, "I love you, dad," before losing contact.
Investigation and Findings
Park officials located Anthony’s body on Wednesday. While the investigation into the specific circumstances of his death is ongoing, authorities stated that his injuries were consistent with those sustained by a bear attack. Arthur Pollio shared details from the coroner's report, indicating that his son likely encountered a grizzly bear. He noted that his son used all of his bear spray during the encounter. When officials returned to the site several days later, the area was described as very odorous from the bear spray.
Family Remembrance
Arthur Pollio described his son as a native of Davie, Florida, who played soccer for the Archdiocese of Miami and attended the University of Central Florida. Emphasizing his son's resilience, Arthur said, "He was a warrior. He was a gladiator. He was a Viking. He would never give up." The family is now grappling with the loss of a young man who was exploring the American West during a cross-country journey.
