Report details hiker’s last moments before apparent fatal bear attack in Glacier National Park

(NEXSTAR) – A Florida man who failed to return from a hike to watch the sunset in Glacier National Park this year was determined to have died from a surprise bear attack, according to an interagency report.

Anthony Pollio, 33, of Davie, Florida, died in early May. Rangers said at the time: Could be responsible for bear attackand an investigation by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee has since confirmed that this was the case.

Review Board reportIt was first reported by Invoice Gazette And SFGateIt details Pollio’s final moments and his apparent interaction with an adult male grizzly bear. Pollio’s death was the first fatal bear attack in Glacier National Park since 1998, preceded by a California man just a few weeks ago. could have survived a bear attack on a nearby trail.

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The IGBC report explained that Pollio was on a multi-day journey when it entered Glacier National Park in Montana on May 3. Pollio arrived at Mt. around 6:30 p.m. Brown began walking towards Lookout. About two hours later, Pollio told his girlfriend via text message that he climbed more than 600 feet and covered about 2,400 feet before reaching the lookout where he planned to watch the sunset.

The IGBC determined that this would be his last known communication.

The next afternoon, Glacier National Park officials were alerted that Pollio was overdue, prompting a multi-day search by land and air.

On May 6, three days after Pollio arrived in the park, a search party found his remains at Mt. Brown found it about 8 feet below the trail, about 2.5 miles from the start of the trail.

The IGBC report said Pollio suffered “extensive trauma to the left side of his head and face,” with a “shallow claw mark” on his neck and “numerous bite marks” on his torso and thighs. His ear was also seen to be feet away from his body.

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Authorities recently found “claw marks on a burnt tree and a dislodged stone,” which they believe the bear may have “launched its attack from there.” Investigators also found an empty can of bear spray.

Pollio, who was hiking in low light or darkness along a trail lined with dead trees, is believed to have surprised the grizzly bear, and the pair may not have seen each other “until they got very close,” according to the IGBC. He likely discharged all of the bear spray “during the initial attack” “before rolling down the slope, possibly while the bear continued its attack.”

Authorities estimated that the bear paused its attack, allowing Pollio to climb approximately 15 feet before “reengaging and killing Mr. Pollio with crushing bites to the head.”

The report stated, “The attack was likely short and intense and did not last long,” adding that Pollio “appears to have been the victim of a defensive attack by a surprised grizzly bear.”

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DNA samples suggest the bear, which is at least 15 years old, “is a lifelong resident of the park and has no history of conflict, no history of capture, or no known history of aggression toward humans.” The IGBC did not release details of bear management efforts against the grizzly bear, but officials encouraged hikers and visitors to the park to be wary of bears.

more than a dozen roads Bear activity in Glacier National Park is marked as known.

National Park officials warn visitors of bears at multiple parks due to increased activity this year. Two hikers around the time Pollio died Injured by a bear in Yellowstone National Park.

Few of the more than 200 deaths Wildlife was among the cases reported in national parks last year.

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