Bear attacks hiker in Glacier National Park

A 34-year-old female hiker was injured by a brown colored bear Wednesday afternoon , at approximately 3:15 pm at Lake Janet in Glacier National Park.

A hiking party of two was westbound at about 3:15 p.m. near Lake Janet when a medium brown colored bear with two cubs charged out of the brush, toward the woman. The woman dove off the trail, while covering her head. The bear swiped at her, injuring her shoulder and arm. As this was happening, her hiking partner deployed bear spray, causing the bear to immediately run away. The entire incident lasted fewer than 30 seconds. 

The hikers continued toward the Lake Janet Wilderness Campground where they found other hikers with an InReach device, which they used to send an SOS to park dispatch.

At approximately 3:42 p.m. park dispatch received the SOS for a female who had an encounter with a brown colored sow. Park staff and ALERT were dispatched. ALERT quickly got to the patient, finding her in stable condition. ALERT transported the woman to Logan Health in Kalispell.

No action will be taken against the bear at this time because the encounter was a surprise to a sow with two cubs which reacted defensively. The area of the trail the hiking party was on is confined by the lake and dense brush, where the bear was located. The species of the bear could not be positively identified.

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.