Yahoo News reported a 29 year old man was attacked by a bear in Yellowstone on Sept. 16. The trail is called Turbid Lake Trail on the Wyoming side of the park.
The attack injured the man on his chest and left arm. Park officials said he sprayed bear repellent as the bear approached. The injured hiker was first taken to a park clinic and then flown to a nearby hospital for more treatment. His injuries were serious but not considered life-threatening. He has now been released from the hospital.
The hiker believed it to be a black bear, but its behavior, size, and location seemed more like a grizzly bear. Bear Management plans to try to confirm the bear’s species through a DNA analysis. Park officials say the bear will not be killed or relocated because it was a defensive reaction by the bear during the surprise meeting with the hiker.
The trail, Turbid Lake Trail, is now closed for the safety of other hikers.
“The hiker began to deploy bear spray when the bear made contact, and he sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm,” officials wrote.
The attack happened 2.5 miles into the backcountry. It was the first attack in Yellowstone since May, 2021 where a solo hiker was attacked on the northern end of the park. That hiker was not hurt a lot and was able to walk out without help.
Grizzly bears are known to be very strong and very fast. They can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and stand up to eight feet on their hind legs, making them the second largest bear. The grizzly bear population has grown from 136 in 1975 to 1,030 in 2024. They are considered as a “threatened” species in the U.S.A.
