A Florida man has been identified as the hiker whose body was found in Montana’s Glacier National Park after a suspected bear attack — the park’s first bear-related fatality in nearly three decades.
Anthony Pollio, 33, went missing May 3 after hiking a trail in the national park. His body was found with injuries consistent with a bear encounter three days later, according to the National Park Service. Pollio, of Davie, Florida, was a University of Central Florida graduate.
How the Search Unfolded
Pollio was reported missing on Monday, May 4, after failing to return from a solo hike toward the Mount Brown Fire Lookout. His last known message was sent at around 8:20 p.m. local time on May 3.
Search and rescue operations began on May 4. Two days later, searchers discovered Pollio’s personal belongings approximately 2.5 miles up the Mt. Brown Trail. His body was located that afternoon in a densely wooded area nearby, about 50 feet off the trail, according to the National Park Service.
Park officials said the investigation is ongoing, but noted that “evidence suggests that this was a surprise encounter.” A section of the trail where the incident occurred remains temporarily closed as authorities investigate.
The First Fatal Attack at Glacier Since 1998
Fatal bear encounters are uncommon at Glacier National Park, located near the Canada–United States border in northwestern Montana. The last deadly bear attack at the park occurred in 1998 in the Two Medicine region, when a solo hiker named Craig Dahl was killed on the Scenic Point Trail.
Since 1910, bears in Glacier — home to one of the highest concentrations of grizzlies in North America — have killed 11 people, including Pollio.
According to the Flathead Beacon, retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grizzly bear recovery coordinator Chris Servheen offered some perspective: “Bears behave themselves pretty well considering how many millions of people we unleash across the landscape every year.” Servheen, who held the role for 35 years, also told the Beacon that as human pressure and bear populations both grow, close-range conflicts across Montana and the broader West have been rising.
A Family Remembers
Pollio’s father, Arthur Pollio, described his son as someone who was prepared for the outdoors: “Anthony was a fearless man. He was an experienced hunter. Tons of experience. Educated. Very smart.” His brother Nicholas told reporters Anthony had spotted the trail and set out to watch the sunset from the fire lookout tower, expecting a straightforward few-mile hike.
Part of a Broader Pattern This Spring
On May 4, the day after Pollio was fatally attacked in Glacier, two hikers were injured in Yellowstone National Park. The hikers were flown by helicopter to a hospital. According to the National Park Service, that Yellowstone attack occurred on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful.
In April, two U.S. Army soldiers were also injured after encountering a brown bear during training at Joint Base Elmendorf
Wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin, speaking to NBC News, noted a specific spring-season risk: bears can misidentify hikers, particularly when defending cubs or territory. “There are more people recreating in bear habitat, and that increases the likelihood of running into a bear at close range,” Servheen told the Flathead Beacon.
How to Stay Safe in Bear Country
The National Park Service recommends all hikers in bear habitat follow these practices:
- Keep your distance. Stay at least 100 yards away from bears at all times and never approach or feed them.
- Make noise on the trail. Most bears will move away from people if they hear them coming. Talk, clap, or use a bear bell — especially on blind corners.
- Carry bear pepper spray. Bear spray is a proven defensive tool for stopping aggressive or charging bears. It is not a repellent; do not apply it to skin or gear.
- Stay calm during an encounter. Speak in low, calm tones. Sudden screaming or running can trigger a charge.
- Avoid dawn and dusk. Those hours see the highest bear activity. Pollio’s last known location at 8:20 p.m. was consistent with a descent from the lookout in fading light, according to reporting by Artvoice.
The full National Park Service bear safety guide can be found at nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm.
SOURCES & LINKS
- Fox35 Orlando, FOX 35 Digital Staff & Camille Sarabia, May 11, 2026 — https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/florida-man-killed-suspected-bear-attack-glacier-national-park
- Flathead Beacon, Tristan Scott, May 9, 2026 — https://flatheadbeacon.com/2026/05/09/glacier-national-parks-first-deadly-bear-attack-since-1998-underscores-anomaly-of-fatal-encounters/
- The Spokesman-Review, May 10, 2026 — https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/may/10/hiker-killed-by-bear-in-surprise-encounter-at-glac/
- 9News / WPLG, May 2026 — https://www.9news.com/article/news/nation-world/hiker-killed-bear-attack-glacier-national-park-identified/507-df9683e5-bed3-43ec-8ceb-4da542dd28c7
- NBC News broadcast transcript (Morgan Chesky report), YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQhT9iwWS4o
- National Park Service bear safety — https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm
