A 29-year-old man was injured in a bear encounter while hiking alone on the Turbid Lake Trail northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the National Park Service, the incident occurred about 2.5 miles from the Pelican Valley Trailhead in the Pelican Valley Bear Management Area. The hiker reportedly encountered the bear near Turbid Lake and began to deploy bear spray when the animal made contact, inflicting significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm.
National Park Service medics responded to the scene and escorted the man back to the trailhead. He was transported by park ambulance to the Lake Medical Clinic and then flown to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
The hiker initially believed the bear was a black bear, but park officials say the animal’s location, size, and behavior suggest it may have been a grizzly. Bear management staff are attempting to confirm the species through DNA analysis, if possible.
The Turbid Lake Trail has been closed until further notice while bear management staff sweep the area to ensure no other hikers are present.
Because the encounter appears to have been a defensive reaction by the bear during a surprise encounter, park officials say no management action will be taken against the animal. The incident remains under investigation.
This is the first reported bear-related injury in Yellowstone in 2025. The last incident occurred in May 2021, when a grizzly bear injured a solo hiker on the Beaver Ponds Trail in Mammoth Hot Springs.
Park officials remind visitors to stay “bear aware” by carrying bear spray, hiking in groups, making noise, staying alert for bear signs, keeping a distance of at least 100 yards, and avoiding hiking during dawn, dusk, or nighttime hours when bears are most active.
