Florida man killed in bear attack at Glacier National Park
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- Anthony Pollio, a 33-year-old hiker from Florida, was killed by a bear in Glacier National Park, Montana, marking the first fatal bear attack in the park since 1998.
- Pollio went missing on May 3 while hiking toward Mount Brown Fire Lookout, and his body was found on May 6 with injuries consistent with a bear encounter.
- The National Park Service believes the attack was a surprise encounter and has temporarily closed the trail section where the incident occurred for investigation.
- Fatal bear attacks are rare in Glacier National Park, with the last one occurring in 1998; non-fatal bear encounters have happened more recently, including an injury in 2025.
- Bear encounters have also been reported recently in other U.S. parks, including Yellowstone and Great Smoky Mountains, prompting safety recommendations such as carrying bear spray, hiking in groups, and avoiding hiking at dawn or dusk.