Missing Hiker Found Dead From Suspected Bear Attack 50 Feet Off Mt Brown Trail in Glacier National Park Montana First Fatal Bear Incident Since 1998

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA — A man who went missing while hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana has been found dead from a suspected bear attack, according to the National Park Service. Search and rescue crews located the body of the missing hiker on Wednesday, approximately 50 feet off the Mt. Brown Trail in a densely wooded area of the park. The incident marks the first fatal bear attack in Glacier National Park in nearly 30 years, with the last such fatality occurring in 1998 when a man was killed by a grizzly bear.

How the Body Was Found

Search and rescue crews located the missing hiker’s body on Wednesday during their search operation inside Glacier National Park. The body was found approximately 50 feet off the Mt. Brown Trail in a densely wooded area, according to park officials who confirmed the discovery to the National Park Service.

The man had gone missing while hiking in the park before search operations were launched to locate him. The discovery of his body off the trail in a heavily wooded section of the park raised immediate suspicion of a bear attack as the cause of death given the nature of the injuries and circumstances found at the scene.

First Fatal Bear Incident in Nearly 30 Years

The suspected fatal bear attack represents a deeply significant and rare event for Glacier National Park, which had not recorded a fatal bear incident since 1998 — nearly 30 years ago — when a man was killed by a grizzly bear inside the park. The rarity of fatal bear attacks in the park underscores both the extraordinary nature of this incident and the importance of bear safety protocols for all visitors hiking within Glacier National Park’s extensive trail system.

Glacier National Park is home to both grizzly bears and black bears, with grizzlies representing the more dangerous of the two species in terms of aggressive encounter history with humans in the region.

What Visitors Should Know About Bear Safety

The discovery of a hiker killed in a suspected bear attack inside Glacier National Park serves as a critical reminder for all visitors about the importance of bear safety while hiking in the park. Hikers are strongly advised to carry bear spray at all times, make noise while on trails to avoid surprising bears, hike in groups whenever possible, and never hike alone in densely wooded or remote areas of the park where bear encounters are more likely.

Park officials are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspected bear attack and the identity of the bear involved. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates.