A pair of hikers in Glacier National Park were attacked by a brown-colored bear last Thursday. The party was hiking near Lake Janet when the bear, followed by two cubs, charged at them out from out of the brush.
According to a park release, the woman dove off the trail while covering her head. The bear swiped at her, injuring her shoulder and arm. Meanwhile, her hiking partner deployed bear spray, causing the bear to immediately run away.
The incident lasted fewer than 30 seconds, and the park wasn’t able to confirm whether this was a brown or grizzly bear.
The pair of hikers continued to their campground, where they used another group’s InReach device to send an SOS to park dispatch. The ALERT team was quickly dispatched and transferred the injured hiker to a local hospital after finding her in stable condition.
“No action will be taken against the bear at this time,” according to park officials. “The encounter was a surprise to a sow with two cubs that reacted defensively. The area of the trail the hiking party was on is confined by the lake and dense brush, which the bear came out of.”
The Lake Janet Wilderness Campground was temporarily closed and will reopen when deemed appropriate by park staff. For information on trail closures in the park, visit the park’s trail status webpage.
Visitors are reminded that the fall season is when bears are more likely to be active due to hyperphagia. As bears prepare for the long winter, during which they will hibernate, they need to eat as much as they can to prepare to go months without food. For more information about recreating in bear country, please visit the park’s bear safety webpage.
