Bear Attacks at Two Prominent National Parks Leave One Dead, Two Badly Injured

During the spring and summer months, countless Americans make use of the country's wide array of national parks, spending time enjoying camping, hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities.

As fun as those pastimes may be, they also carry some risks. Bear attacks are thankfully rare, but they do happen, and unfortunately, can be quite serious.

This week, a pair of bear attacks at major national parks left one hiker dead and two others seriously injured.

Tragedies at Glacier, Yellowstone

On Monday, at least one grizzly bear attacked a pair of brothers hiking at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The incident, which occurred on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful, left one brother critical and the other seriously injured, according to the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

Both men were airlifted to a local hospital and their names have not been released. This was the first reported bear attack at Yellowstone since September 2025; the park has not had a fatal attack in over a decade.

Meanwhile, around 12 p.m. local time Wednesday, search and rescue teams recovered the body of a missing hiker in Glacier National Park in Montana.

"The victim was located about 2.5 miles up the Mt. Brown Trail approximately 50 feet off the trail in a densely wooded area with downed timber," said a release from the National Park Service. "His injuries are consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter.

"Wildlife and law enforcement personnel are currently assessing the area for bear activity and any ongoing public safety concerns. The investigation is ongoing."

Prior to this week, the last known bear attack on a person in Glacier National Park was in August 2025. The most recent bear-related death occurred in 1998 in the Two Medicine Valley.

Be prepared for bears

As we said, bear attacks, particularly fatal ones, are extremely rare. Still, with winter ending and bears coming out of hibernation, you should ready yourself before venturing out in any areas where you could potentially encounter one.

The National Park Service has an extensive list of tips to follow to avoid a confrontation with a bear or be able to save yourself and others if you do become involved with one.

You can find all of those guidelines and more at this link.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 1:57 PM.