Missing hiker killed by bear in Glacier National Park

UPDATE: May 7 at 6:45 p.m.

Glacier National Park officials said in a release that search crews found the body of a missing hiker at about 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, on the Mt. Brown Trail.

Officials said the victim was about 2 ½  miles up the trail and roughly 50 feet off the path in a thick wooded area with downed timber. They said the injuries matched what can happen in a bear encounter.

Wildlife officers and law enforcement are assessing the area for bear activity and any continuing safety concerns. Officials said the investigation remained ongoing.

A section of the Mt. Brown Trail is temporarily closed. Park staff said they were deciding what to do next based on field checks and wildlife monitoring.

The park said it would not release the victim’s name until 72 hours after next-of-kin notification.

According to Glacier National Park, the last bear-caused human death in the park happened in 1998 in the Two Medicine Valley. The last reported bear injury to a person was in August 2025.

WEST GLACIER, Mont. – Glacier National Park rangers are currently searching for a 33-year-old man who has been missing for multiple days, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

Anthony Pollio, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was last heard from on Sunday, May 3, around 8:20 p.m. According to NPS officials, he sent a message stating plans to hike toward the Mt. Brown Fire Lookout. Amid search efforts, authorities located his vehicle at Lake McDonald Lodge.

NPS officials described Pollio as a Caucasian male, standing five feet, eleven inches tall, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He weighs around 180 pounds and may be wearing jeans, boots, a black backpack and a blue or gray jacket.

With assistance from Flathead County Search and Rescue personnel and aerial resources, park rangers are conducting search efforts in the areas around Mt. Brown and Snyder, including nearby trails. NPS officials noted that the Sperry Trail has been closed as search efforts remain ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding Pollio’s whereabouts or who has seen an individual fitting his description is urged to contact the park tip line at 406-888-7077.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE: May 5 at 5:45 p.m.