Yellowstone visitor injured by grizzly

A woman sustained a minor injury from a female grizzly bear earlier this week while hiking on the Fairy Falls Trail near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.

According to authorities, the 37-year-old, a visitor from Columbia, Missouri, was hiking alone Monday morning when she encountered two grizzly bears at very close range. The female bear knocked the woman down, and she sustained a scratch on her thigh and minor injuries to her face.

She later declined medical attention.

Authorities said the hiker attempted to use her bear spray. The Fairy Falls Trail was cleared of hikers following the incident, and the trail and surrounding area have been temporarily closed.

Kerry Gunter, who’s a bear management biologist, said from the injured woman’s statements, the incident appears to be a typical case of a mother grizzly protecting her offspring following a close-range encounter.

He said because the bear was displaying natural protective behavior, no action will be taken against the animal. Several trails in the area will be closed to give the grizzly family group time to clear from the area.

This is the first incident of a bear attacking a visitor in Yellowstone in 2020. The last time a bear injured a visitor in the park was in June 2019, when a black bear bit into an occupied tent and bruised a woman’s thigh.

Authorities said the incident is under investigation.

They remind visitors that when an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot or in a developed area, people should stay at least 25 yards away from all large animals and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

They advise people to hike in groups of three or more people, carry bear spray and know how to use it, be alert and make noise, stay out of areas that are closed for bear management, and don’t hike at dawn, dusk or at night when grizzly bears are most active.

They also advise that, if necessary, people should turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal.