Two bear attacks, one day apart: What's going on in Yellowstone and Glacier?

May 13-Details are beginning to emerge about the recent bear attacks in Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. Within the span of one day, a bear injured two hikers near Old Faithful in Yellowstone and, 400 miles to the north, another bear killed a hiker near Lake McDonald in Glacier.

Yellowstone officials said based on evidence gathered at the scene so far, they believe a female grizzly bear with two or three cubs was involved in the attack on May 4, which sent two brothers to the hospital. The men, ages 15 and 28, were airlifted from the Mystic Falls area and are expected to recover.

Specifics about the fatal bear attack that happened a day prior in Glacier National Park are still sparse. The bear encounter killed a 33-year-old solo male hiker, Anthony Pollio, a deacon from Florida. Glacier National Park officials haven't yet said what species of bear - black or grizzly - was involved.

The back-to-back injuries and death have people wondering: What's going on with bears in the northern Rockies?

But bear expert Chris Servheen, the grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 35 years, said there's no overlap between the two attacks. "It's just completely random," he said. "There's no connection whatsoever."

Fatal grizzly bear attacks in the Lower 48 are rare. There have been 11 grizzly bear-related fatalities in Glacier National park since 1967, according to park documentation. Two of those fatalities occurred on one night, when two women were killed by bears 10 miles apart.

Eight grizzly bear-related fatalities have happened in Yellowstone since 1872.

The last fatal bear attack in Glacier National Park was almost 30 years ago, in 1998. "Bears spend most of their lifetimes trying to stay away from people, and they're pretty good at that," Servheen said. The fact that the last fatal attack was so long ago, despite rising visitation to Glacier, is "a tribute to the bears," he said.

But there are tens of thousands of people "mixing it up" with about 2,400 grizzly bears in the Lower 48, according to Servheen. "There are mistakes that are occasionally made and surprises that happen," he said. "Grizzly bears don't like surprises." The vast majority of bear attacks are surprise encounters, where a bear is reacting defensively to a human that gets too close to its cubs, its food or it.

Much of online speculation about the recent attacks isn't true. Contrary to popular belief, bears are not especially hungry when emerging from hibernation. "That's false," Servheen said. "It takes a while for their digestive system to start, so they may not even eat for several weeks when they come out."

Montana, home to Glacier National Park, and Wyoming, where most of Yellowstone National Park sits, have had milder, warmer-than-usual winters. Some bears may have left their dens early as a result. But Servheen said grizzly bears tend to den at higher elevations - above 6,000 feet - where there is still a decent snowpack.

"There could be bears out earlier, but in general, I don't think that has anything to do with the attacks," Servheen said. "There may be bears that are out there looking for something to eat, but there isn't a lot to eat yet because nothing's greened up. I don't think that's a big deal at this point."

Investigators in Glacier National Park are now trying to piece together the fatal attack's details. Park Service staff are in the process of taking photographs of the site, drawing maps and trying to reconstruct what happened. They'll also check that signs warning hikers of bear presence and how to hike in bear country were posted at the trailhead. Rangers involved in the response will each write up a report. Then, the Park Service will likely convene what's called a "board of review."

Servheen has been on eight such incident review panels, which usually include agency and outside experts. The review process is useful for land management agencies and the public "to better understand why this occurred and how they can prevent it in the future." "Ideally, it's completed as soon as possible," he said.

Hikers in Glacier, Yellowstone and any bear habitat can protect themselves and reduce the chances of an injury or death in a variety of ways. Warning bears of your presence, especially in dense trees or brush, is key. Servheen likes to recommend clapping. "Clapping noise carries a long way," he said. "It's a very unusual sound in the woods. It alerts animals." Singing and shouting can also help.

Visitors should carry bear spray and know how to use it. They should also avoid hiking at dawn or dusk, when bears are most active. Traveling in groups of three or more also increases hiker safety. The noise and smells groups generate are less likely to surprise a bear, and if they do, a bear is less likely to attack a larger group. "Be alert," Servheen said. "Be vigilant. Know what you're doing. Don't hike alone."

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 10:43 AM.