Grizzly Bear Kills Man In Yellowstone National Park; First Fatal Mauling Since 1986

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — Yellowstone National Park officials say a grizzly bear has killed a hiker in the park's backcountry – the first fatal bear mauling in the park since 1986.

Park spokesman Al Nash says it appears the man and his wife surprised a female grizzly and her cubs Wednesday morning

Nash says investigators have been interviewing the woman about the bear attack, which took place close to Canyon Village, near the middle of the park. He says authorities aren't prepared to release the man's name, age or hometown and likely won't release more details until Thursday.

Nash says park officials haven't taken any action against the bear.

Comments

[Tulka2]

09:46 PM on 07/07/2011

It is my theory that bears are really, really grouchy when their blood sugar is low.  Or to put it another way, a fat bear is a comfortable bear.  It's why that fellow who trains the Grizzlies in every movie you ever saw a Grizzly in keeps them fat.  You never saw fatter bears than his.  Bears are eating machines.  We should have some sympathy with that.... surely?

[miggiepdx]

02:23 AM on 07/08/2011

You've given quite a lot of thought to this bear business. Did you live in Alaska?

[Tulka2]

02:10 PM on 07/08/2011

We live in the foothills of the Cascades in Washington state. My husband loves to sport fish and that's why i know Alaska.

[Onlygodknowswhy]

08:55 PM on 07/07/2011

Black bears will kill you.
Black bears attack people.
I just dont want someone thinking thzt it all good around black bears.
I was ten feet from a mountian lion and he walked off to.
ive sat and watched grillies.in yellowstone.
But for some reason sometimes tjey attack.

[SarcasticFringehead]

09:53 PM on 07/07/2011

Black bears are relatively harmless.

Grizzles are not.

One should treat all of natures creatures with respect, but at a distance.

[William Blomberg]

02:54 PM on 07/07/2011

Tragic. Always make sure that you follow experts advise in bear territory by whistling or ringing a bell, so that you do NOT surprise the bears, which is what occured here. Also, carrying bear mace is recommended.

[Tulka2]

02:08 PM on 07/08/2011

Grandfather was a horse whisperer brought to the U.S. so as to help a rich man win at harness-racing which was huge in the Middle-west at the turn of the twentieth century.  He was an Irishman and used to say the most delightful things to his grandchildren.  One of them was, "Every animal knows that humans are the talking animal.  The only time man is not talking, from a wild animal's view is when man is sneaking up to kill you.  If you want a wild animal relaxed, just talk all the time. It doesn't matter what you say, it's how you say it."  All to back you up.  If this person had been talking and singing while hiking, this would not have happened.  People are wrong to think they will see wildlife if they sneak.  Just the opposite is true; the animals will hear you and think, "What a polite human being.  I think I will take a look-see."  And as you pass there they will be at a safe distance.

[William Blomberg]

03:56 PM on 07/09/2011

Very wise man, your grandfather! F&F!!

[miggiepdx]

01:11 PM on 07/26/2011

Stunning information. You're fortunate to have this type of intelligence in your bloodlines. Look how that flows through the generations to your own insightful comments.

[Cantinflas]

09:21 AM on 07/07/2011

A more detailed account on another web site points out that there is a bear warning sign at the trailhead where this man and his family entered the trail.

[KIVPossum]

09:19 AM on 07/07/2011

With all the tourists going through Yellowstone, one death every 25 years seems to show bears aren't chasing after people.

I hope they leave the momma bear alone.

[Tulka2]

02:16 PM on 07/08/2011

Just read a book called The Dead which is about that subject.  The most astonishing thing i carried away from it was that the majority of everyone who is dead, died of malaria.  As many as 56 billion people in history have died of a mosquito bite.  This also puts bear attacks in proportion.

[CONservativeJOB]

09:15 AM on 07/07/2011

Such a grizzly discovery must be hard to bear.

[SarcasticFringehead]

09:54 PM on 07/07/2011

Ouch!

My brain hurts.

[zanzy]

09:06 AM on 07/07/2011

Good News so far:

Initial information indicated the mother bear behaved normally in defending her cubs and would not be killed as a result of her actions, park spokeswoman Linda Miller said.

[zanzy]

08:54 AM on 07/07/2011

"The wife, who was also assaulted by the bear but left uninjured, told park authorities the couple saw the bear twice during their hike. The first time it appeared to keep its distance, but the second time it charged,"(NY daily new.com).

I don't know what they could have done different as I am not a bear expert. But it does appear that the mama bear gave them a warning to get away and they did not.

Please let these bear live and have a mother!

[shadow90]

05:53 PM on 07/08/2011

>.< i should know by now to read other articles to get more info since these usually leave out info that would be nice to know. dont worry about the bear they are leaving her alone.

[Greg285]

08:49 AM on 07/07/2011

Not the Bears fault! She was protecting her cubs and the hikers should have be aware that this time of year, mother bears are out with their cubs and should be very cautious....

[Cantinflas]

09:05 AM on 07/07/2011

Absolutely. The most dangerous animal in North America is a mother grizzly with cubs. Hikers that go into bear country assume a risk. In Yellostone bison are also dangerous.

[Crushedknee]

11:06 AM on 07/07/2011

Actually I think Dogs, bee's and horses kill many more than Bears each year..Though familiarity tends to warp our perceptions of danger..

[Chia Shrek]

08:48 AM on 07/07/2011

Then release the bear.

[Chia Shrek]

08:48 AM on 07/07/2011

Find this bear.

Put the bear in an enclosure with the man from Exxon.

[no exit]

11:27 AM on 07/07/2011

I like that idea! F&F

[zanzy]

08:47 AM on 07/07/2011

Remember this, "For each person killed by a black bear attack (more common than those by grizzlies) there are 13 people killed by snakes, 17 by spiders, 45 by dogs, 120 by bees, 150 by tornadoes, 374 by lightning and 60,000 by humans."

Source: Grizzlybay.org:

[rda1911a1]

08:39 AM on 07/07/2011

There are two things i take in Yellowstone 1-Nikon SLR Digital 2-Ruger redhawk in 45 LC

[Totto]

09:02 AM on 07/07/2011

It's the bear's home you're invading.

[RobbZombie]

11:22 AM on 07/07/2011

Agree...except I opt for two cans of Frontiersman Bear Spray (and gun). Unless I have a weapon "in-hand", which I rarely do, not sure I could draw, aim, and fire accurately, quick enough to stop a charging bear. The spray throws a quick wide range spray/mist...giving me that quick second to get the heck out of there.

[rda1911a1]

01:23 PM on 07/07/2011

OC spray is a good product but having used it in law enforcement I'm drawing my pistol first I'm a lot smoother and does not matter who is down wind. Having shot a few black bears growing up on the rez give me a big flat heavy bullet please

[Fredday]

08:20 AM on 07/07/2011

You may think you have the right of way, but you're not built to take it.

[Nishnabe]

08:11 AM on 07/07/2011

I may get eaten alive for this, but I need to say it. Part of the male European mindset is to "do something," anything, when something like this happens. 9-11? Never mind it was Wahabbi Muslims from Saudi Arabia who hijacked the planes, invade Sunni Iraq. Bear eats hiker in Yellowstone? Find and kill the bear. Do something, even if it is wrong. Spend a trillion in treasure to do something about 9-11 even if the country that spawned the event (bin Laden and the hijackers) will get off scot free. And so a mama bear who did nothing more than protect her young now faces execution because she instinctively removed a threat to her young. I recall reading accounts of the Spanish in early Alta California and they noted intense Indian settlements right next to grizzly habitat and yet they reported few problems living next to the bears. But when the Spanish and later Americans came to California they killed all the bears. The last grizzly reported in California was in the San Jacinto Mts outside LA, 1934 or so. And the state of California mocks that environmental disaster with a griz on the flag. Go figure.

[Greg285]

08:52 AM on 07/07/2011

What are you rambling about and what does 9/11 have to do with this story?