A Massachusetts man was injured in a grizzly bear attack in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. According to park officials, the grizzly may have been trying to protect a cub, as it accidentally sprayed itself with bear repellent while attacking the hiker on Signal Mountain. The man, who pretended to be dead during the attack, managed to escape and received medical treatment.
The decision not to capture or kill the bear was made because the animal had behaved naturally when surprised. This incident was not linked to bears engaging in risky behaviors like raiding campsites or consuming human food. Park rangers, who are familiar with many bears in the region, were not acquainted with the bears involved in the attack.
Despite carrying bear repellent and making noise to alert bears, the victim was still attacked. Following the encounter with a small bear, he was charged by a larger bear, resulting in multiple bites before the bear was driven away by the burst of pepper spray. The man was able to call for help and was evacuated to a hospital for treatment.
Investigators suspect that the smaller bear observed was a cub belonging to the female grizzly that carried out the attack. Mother bears are known to defend their offspring aggressively. The victim’s identity was not disclosed, but he is expected to fully recover from his injuries.
This incident follows several recent grizzly bear attacks, including one in Canada where a hunter sustained significant injuries while hunting with his father. Additionally, a Canadian couple and their dog were killed by a grizzly bear while backpacking in Banff National Park last fall.
Grizzly bears, a threatened species in the contiguous United States, are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In response to growing incidents, the U.S. National Park Service has launched a campaign to capture grizzly bears in Yellowstone Park for research purposes. The public is advised to avoid areas with traps during this process.