According to the results of an investigation, one man was recently killed in the Yellowstone National Park by a female grizzly bear and at least one cub of the year.
In a statement, the National Park Service (NPS) said the exact cause of death for the victim has not been determined but the man has been identified as a long-term seasonal employee for Medcor, a company managing three urgent care clinics in Yellowstone. The man was discovered close to Lake Village, exhibiting defensive wounds on his forearms.
The NPS didn't release the victim's name but said the man was from Montana and had lived and worked for five seasons in Yellowstone. An experienced hiker, the victim was reported missing after he didn't show up for work Aug. 7. One of the park's rangers found his remains in an off-trail area frequented by the victim about half a mile away from Elephant Back Loop Trail.
Wildlife biologists and more park rangers were dispatched to the scene, gathering evidence to recover bear DNA. It was said that a female grizzly bear and at least one cub of the year were behind the attack based on some partial tracks left at the scene. Investigations continued through the weekend but heavy rains in the area made recovering additional evidence difficult.
Bear traps have also been set up in the area. If a trapped bear is a match to the DNA recovered from the scene, it will be killed. In the meantime, the Elephant Back Loop Trail and its immediate surrounding area have been closed to the public until further notice.
"We may not be able to conclusively determine the circumstances of this bear attack, but we will not risk public safety," said Dan Wenk, superintendent for the Yellowstone National Park.
As the whole Yellowstone National Park is deemed bear country, visitors, especially hikers, are reminded to stick to designated trails at all times, to travel in groups of at least three, to bring bear spray and to be on the lookout for bears. It is also advisable to make noise to avoid surprise encounters and to report all encounters with bears immediately to park rangers.
From 1980 to 2011, the park recorded having more than 90 million visitors, just 43 of which were injured by bears. For park visitors, particularly those who don't leave developments, the chances of being hurt by a bear are actually just at 1 in 2.1 million. Grizzly bears specifically have been reported to cause human injury just about once in every 11 years.
Photo: Rob Hurson | Flickr
