Yellowstone hiker survives encounter with a bear, possibly a grizzly

A hiker who was attacked by a bear—probably a grizzly — in Yellowstone National Park last week has been released from the hospital.

- BY JACK DOLAN

FRANK VAN MANEN U.S. Geological Survey BEAR attacks are rare in Yellowstone. Above, a grizzly and a cub in a 2019 photo.

The 29-year old man had been hiking alone on the remote Turbid Lake Trail when he apparently surprised the bear, according to park officials.

While trying to use bear spray, he sustained “significant but not life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm,” according to officials.

National Park Service medics responded to the scene, and the victim was able to walk with them to the trailhead, where he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a nearby clinic. From there, a helicopter flew him to a hospital. He was released Wednesday.

As is true in the rest of the U.S., bear attacks are exceedingly rare in Yellowstone.

Since the park was established in 1872, eight people have been killed by bears, according to the park's website. For comparison, 125 people have drowned and 23 have died from burns after falling into hot springs.

Even seeing a grizzly bear is pretty uncommon in the lower 48 states.