35-year-old man survives grizzly bear attack after meeting two of them in national park

A 35-year-old man was seriously injured in a grizzly bear attack after accidentally hitting two of them in Wyoming, officials said.

The sudden attack occurred Sunday afternoon when Teton Interagency Dispatch received a report of a 35-year-old male visitor from Massachusetts who had been “severely injured” by a bear in the area of ​​Signal Mountain Summit Road, according to a news release from the National Park Service release Monday detailing the attack.

“Grand Teton National Park Rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue personnel responded to the scene to provide emergency medical care and lifted the patient by helicopter to a waiting ambulance where he was transported to St. John’s Hospital,” officials said.

Based on initial reports from the injured visitor and preliminary information gathered as part of an ongoing investigation of the site, law enforcement rangers and park biologists believe the incident was a “surprise encounter with two grizzly bears acted, with one of the bears touching and injuring the visitor.”

Park officials did not provide details about the circumstances of the incident or how the man was able to defend himself, but said the unnamed victim who was injured was in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.

Due to the weekend attack, Signal Mountain Summit Road and Signal Mountain Trail are currently closed to public access.

Park officials used the opportunity to remind people how to prevent conflicts between humans and bears in the wild.

“Never leave your food unattended unless it is properly secured,” authorities said. “Keep a clean warehouse and follow all food storage instructions. Store all attractants, including coolers, cooking utensils, pet food, and toiletries, in a bear-proof food cabinet (e.g., bear box) or vehicle with hard-sided suitcases and windows rolled up.”

Park officials also reminded people to properly store trash until it can be thrown into a bear-proof dumpster and not to eat or cook in the tent, “and never store food or other scented items in the tent.”

The National Park Service said: “If you see a bear, please give it space. Always stay at least 100 yards away.”