Florida Hiker Killed by Grizzly in Glacier Park; Report Released July 23

Anthony Pollio, 33, from Florida, died after a grizzly bear attacked him on Mount Brown Trail in Glacier National Park on May 3. An investigation report released July 20 reveals he was hiking alone after dark when he surprised an adult male grizzly near fallen timber. Pollio discharged bear spray but was killed by crushing bites to the head. The incident marks the first fatal bear attack in Glacier National Park since 1998.

How the attack unfolded

Pollio texted his girlfriend at 8:20 p.m. that he had hiked 3 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain and planned to watch the sunset from Mount Brown Lookout before descending. Sunset that day was 8:53 p.m. He began descending around 9:30 p.m. in darkness, when visibility was poor and the trail was obstructed by fallen trees from winter blowdown and the 2017 Sprague wildfire.

Investigators found claw marks and a displaced rock about 23 feet downhill from the trail, marking where the attack began. Pollio fell approximately 70 feet down the slope, then climbed back up roughly 18 feet before sustaining fatal injuries. His body was discovered May 6 about 69 feet below the trail.

Bear spray did not prevent the attack

A fully discharged canister of bear spray was found near the attack site, but investigators could not determine whether it struck the bear or if Pollio had enough warning to deploy it effectively. Chris Servheen, a grizzly bear expert who spent 35 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told Outside that bear spray does not provide immunity from hiking in the dark. The bear likely charged uphill toward Pollio near a switchback obstructed by downed timber, leaving little time to react.

The bear was not predatory

DNA evidence identified the bear as an adult male at least 15 years old that had lived in the park for years without any known conflict history, capture history, or aggression toward people. The report concluded Pollio was the victim of a defensive attack by a surprised grizzly, not a predatory one. The bear left the area after the brief, intense encounter and did not consume Pollio’s body.

Key risk factors in the incident

Pollio was an experienced hunter and outdoorsman who carried bear spray and had practiced using it. Yet he hiked alone on a strenuous 10-mile trail after dark in unfamiliar terrain. Darkness and deadfall prevented both the bear and Pollio from seeing each other until they were very close. The Mount Brown Trail climbs over 4,200 feet with more than two dozen switchbacks. Investigators concluded the attack was likely brief and intense, lasting only seconds before Pollio had time to react.

Final Thoughts

The report underscores that bear spray is a defensive tool, not a force field. Hiking alone after dark in bear country remains dangerous even for experienced outdoorsmen with proper equipment. The incident was the first fatal bear attack in Glacier National Park in 28 years.

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