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By Aliss Higham
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A grizzly bear responsible for the death of a Florida hiker in Glacier National Park earlier this year will not be euthanized or moved.
The decision follows a review of the May 2026 attack that killed 33-year-old Anthony Pollio of Davie, Florida, who was hiking alone on the Mt. Brown Lookout trail during a cross-country road trip.
Park officials said the bear’s behavior did not warrant any management action but that wildlife activity in the area would continue to be monitored.
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Bear 'Reacted Defensively'
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“Following a comprehensive review of the incident, no management action has been taken or is planned for the bear involved,” a Glacier National Park spokesperson told SFGATE.
The spokesperson added that investigators determined “the bear reacted defensively during a surprise encounter” and that “the park will continue to monitor bear activity in the area as part of its ongoing wildlife management program.”
Newsweek has contacted Glacier National Park for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
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Investigators Say Hiker Likely Surprised Bear
Pollio entered Glacier National Park on May 3 and drove to Lake McDonald Lodge before beginning a 5.1-mile hike toward the Mt. Brown Lookout. He planned to watch the sunset from the viewpoint before returning to his vehicle and finding a camping location inside the park.
The investigation by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) found that Pollio likely encountered the bear at close range during low-light conditions. Fallen trees and limited visibility along the trail may have prevented him from seeing the animal before the encounter occurred.
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee determined that evidence from the scene showed an adult male grizzly bear was responsible for the attack.
Investigators said Pollio appeared to have fallen or been thrown downhill during the confrontation, with his personal belongings found scattered along the slope. Blood evidence suggested the attack continued as he moved down the hillside, with blood patterns becoming more frequent and heavier closer to where his body was eventually discovered.
Pollio was found approximately 69 feet below the trail, lying on his back with his head positioned upslope. Officials said evidence indicated he may have moved about 18 feet back toward the trail before the bear returned and inflicted fatal injuries.
The report described extensive trauma to his head and face, including damage to facial tissue and underlying bone. Investigators also noted a possible shallow claw mark across his neck and multiple bite marks on his torso and thighs.
A searcher later found a can of bear spray in brush near the trail, which had been completely discharged.
Calls To Remove Grizzly Bear Protections
The decision not to kill or relocate the bear comes amid debate over federal protections for grizzly bears following several attacks in national parks.
After the Glacier National Park death and a separate incident in Yellowstone National Park that left two hikers injured, Representative Ryan Zinke, a Montana Republican, called for grizzly bears to lose their protected status.
"Last week, two grizzly bear attacks claimed the life of a hiker in Glacier National Park and seriously injured two others in Yellowstone National Park," Zinke wrote on X in May. "These tragedies are a sobering reminder that grizzly bear populations have recovered well beyond sustainable levels, and it is past time for the federal government to delist them and give states the management tools they need to protect both people and wildlife. Delist the grizzly."
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Grizzly bears were first listed as a threatened species in 1975 after populations in the lower 48 states declined due to hunting, habitat loss and expanding human development. At the time, the species occupied less than 2 percent of its historic range in the contiguous United States.
They remain protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, which includes restrictions on harming or killing listed animals, requirements for recovery planning, protections for critical habitat and federal reviews of projects that could affect a species’ survival.
In January 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rejected petitions from Montana and Wyoming seeking to delist grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems.
The agency said both populations had met recovery goals but determined they would remain protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Fatal Encounters Remain Rare
Although grizzly bears can pose serious risks, fatal attacks in the United States remain uncommon and are often linked to specific circumstances, including bears being startled by people or animals becoming accustomed to human food sources.
People traveling in bear country should take precautions, such as properly storing food, keeping dogs leashed and carrying bear spray where encounters are possible.
A 2023 Congressional Research Service report estimated that, as of 2021, there were about 1,095 grizzly bears in Montana’s Northern Continental Divide ecosystem and around 727 in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, which includes areas of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Smaller populations also remain in other northern regions.
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
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