Hiker Found Dead From Suspected Bear Attack in Glacier National Park

Search and rescue crews found the body of a hiker reported missing in Glacier National Park around noon Wednesday, approximately 50 feet off the Mt. Brown Trail in a densely wooded area. Park officials said the man's injuries were consistent with those sustained in a bear encounter.

The National Park Service announced the discovery in a press release the following day. The victim's name has not been released pending notification of next of kin. The hiker, a 33-year-old man from Florida, was last heard from Sunday night and was reported missing the next day.

Rangers had focused their search in the Mt. Brown and Snyder areas after his car was found near the Lake McDonald Lodge. His family told local reporters that he was an experienced outdoorsman who had set out to reach a fire lookout tower for sunset views.

They believe he deployed bear spray in self-defense before the animal pursued and attacked him by the shoulder. A bear spray canister was recovered near the scene.

The investigation into the suspected bear attack remains ongoing. Wildlife and law enforcement personnel are assessing the area for bear activity and any ongoing public safety concerns, park officials said. Sections of the trail where the incident occurred have been temporarily closed.

Officials have not determined whether the bear will be euthanized under the park's Bear Management Plan, which prioritizes human safety when an animal is deemed a significant threat. The most recent reported bear-related injury there occurred in August 2025 when a 34-year-old woman was hurt by a brown-colored bear at Lake Janet.

Earlier this week, two hikers were injured in a separate bear encounter at Yellowstone National Park near the Old Faithful area in Wyoming. Park officials there believe a female grizzly bear with two or three young cubs was involved. The injured hikers, ages 15 and 28, were airlifted out of the park and temporary closures remain in effect.

Park officials said they are continuing to monitor both incidents. Bears that attack humans or show dangerously aggressive behavior are often euthanized to protect visitors under established wildlife management policies.