A missing hiker has been found dead in what authorities believe may have been a bear attack at Glacier National Park in Montana. Anthony Pollio, 33, had been missing since Sunday before the search. Rescue crews located his remains in a densely wooded area of the park.
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Bear Attack Investigation Underway in Montana After Hiker Found Dead
Officials say Pollio suffered injuries "consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter."
Following the discovery, the National Park Service closed part of the trail system. While rangers assessed the area for ongoing bear activity.
Pollio, who was from Fort Lauderdale, was reported missing on Monday after failing to return from his hike.
Authorities say his last known communication came on Sunday around 8:20 PM. He reportedly messaged someone saying he was hiking toward the Mt. Brown Fire Lookout.
Search crews later found his vehicle near Lake McDonald Lodge as efforts intensified.
Pollio's remains were eventually discovered roughly 50 feet off the Mt. Brown Trail.
According to the Montana Free Press, bears involved in attacks on humans within the park have historically been euthanized after investigations.
Fatal Bear Attacks Remain Rare Despite Recent Incidents
Since 1967, Glacier National Park has recorded 10 fatal bear attacks.
If officials confirm Pollio died as the result of a bear encounter, it would mark the park's first fatal bear attack since May 1998.
This was when a hiker died while trekking the Scenic Point Trail in the Two Medicine Valley.
In August 2025, authorities reported another bear-related human injury within the park.
Only 63 people died from black bear attacks in North America between 1900 and 2009, per the Journal of Wildlife Management.
"Fatal bear attacks are rare in the US, but experts say the animals grow bolder and lose their fear of humans when homes and campgrounds become easy food sources," the BBC's Nardine Saad wrote.
However, the incident comes as two hikers suffered injuries in an apparent bear attack on Monday at Yellowstone National Park near Old Faithful in Wyoming.
According to The Sheridan Press, the hikers were brothers who were attacked by "at least one bear." One of the men remains in critical condition, while the other suffered serious injuries.
