Tourist surprises grizzly bears and is seriously injured in Grand Teton, rangers say
.jpg "A tourist was seriously injured after he surprised two grizzlies on a hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park.")
A tourist was seriously injured after he surprised two grizzlies in Grand Teton National Park, officials said.
The 35-year-old man was visiting the Wyoming park from Massachusetts the afternoon of Sunday, May 19, when the “surprise encounter” occurred near Signal Mountain Summit Road, the National Park Service said in a news release Monday, May 20.
One of the bears made contact with him and left him badly injured, he told rangers and investigating park biologists, according to the National Park Service.
Grand Teton National Park rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue provided emergency care and airlifted him to an ambulance that took him to St. John’s Hospital.
He “is in stable condition and is expected to fully recover,” officials said.
The road and the Signal Mountain Trail are closed to the public.
More information about safety in bear country is available on Grand Teton National Park’s website and/or Bear Wise Jackson Hole.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
To prevent conflicts with bears, visitors should:
- Never leave food unattended unless it’s secured.
- Keep your camp clean and carefully follow food storage orders. That includes storing any smelly attractants, including coolers, cooking gear, pet food, and toiletries inside a bear-resistant food locker (or bear box) or a hard-sided vehicle with the windows rolled up.
- Securely store garbage until you can dispose it in a bear-resistant dumpster.
- Don’t eat, cook or bring food into your tent, and never keep food or other smelly items in your tent.
- Respect wildlife closure areas.
- If you see a bear, give it space and stay at least 100 yards away. If you want to observe or take photos of the bear, you should use a spotting scope, binoculars or telephoto lens. Follow directions in places where bears are spotted and park in designated areas so you don’t block travel lanes.
When exploring the backcountry:
- Stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Make lots of noise, “especially in areas with limited visibility or when sound is muffled”, such as near streams or when it’s windy.
- Bring bear spray with you, know how to use it and have it out and ready to use or keep it easily accessible.
- Hike in groups, preferably of three or more people.
- Do not run. If you do encounter a bear, back away from it slowly.
This story was originally published May 21, 2024 at 9:38 AM.
