August 15, 2000 GRIZZLY ATTACK PATHOLOGIST'S REPORT & other information.
CAG Comment
The nature of this document may be repugnant to some readers. Continue at your own discretion.
Information supplied by a mortician that gives one pause as to the wisdom of making the Selway Bitterroot Ecosystem [SBE] home for grizzly bears; especially in the face of the even further reduction in carrying capacity for large carnivores from recent wildfires that are largely caused by forest mismanagement brought on by environmentalists who have captured federal resource management agencies.
This is one of the most written about deaths from grizzly bears that occured in Glacier National Park.
End CAG Comment
.Fall 1976, 22 year old female attacked by bears at Many Glacier Campground in Glacier Park. She was attending University of Montana and was camped in a tent with two other female companions. The bears were 2, 3 year old grizzlies.
There were 19 people in the campground.
Bear samples labeled "384" and "385" Hair samples were collected from 3 bears. Bear number "385" samples showed presence of human blood.
Her death certificate stated the immediate cause of death; multiple injuries, shock, hemorrhage. due as a consequence of; mauled by bears.
FINAL DIAGNOSIS:
A. Scalp avulsed from top of head
B. Skin, subcutaneous tissue and most of muscle ripped from left shoulder and arm to wrist.
C. Fracture of left radius.
D. Skin of abdomen, flank and left side of back tom from body.
E. Mouth patterned injuries of right flank and buttock.
F. Puncture wounds from teeth of anterior chest and posterior right arm,.
G. Multiple deep lacerations of skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle of left jaw, anterior chest above breasts, back, buttocks, and left thigh.
H. Minor abrasions of face and both knees.
TOXICOLOGY; Blood; Ethyl alcohol- none detected.
SUMMARY:
This 22 year old girl was reportedly attacked by one or more grizzly bears while asleep in a tent in the Many Glacier Campground of Glacier Park. The tent was pitched near the Ranger Station and two other girls also occupied the tent. At approximately 6:30-7:00 am, a bear tore the deceased from the tent and dragged her away in spite of all efforts to frighten him. She was found dead in some bushes a short time later. Several pieces of tissue were recovered along the bloody trail and were submitted with the body. According to the investigators, there was no food in the tent and none of the girls wore perfume or were menstruating
At autopsy, the immediate cause of death appeared to be blood loss and shock resulting from extensive injuries, particularly of the left shoulder, arm and abdomen. The deceased was not menstruating and there was no evidence of clinically unsuspected disease.
GROSS DESCRIPTION:
A full thickness piece of the scalp has been tom away from. the top of the head leaving an oval defect starting anteriorly at the hairline, extending posteriorly to the occiput and measuring approximately 10 x 12 cm. A second flap of scalp measuring approximately 5 x 6 cm has been lifted from the right occipital area and is reflected anterio~y, but is still attached near the margin of the large defect described above. A transverse laceration measuring 2 x 0.3 cm is present 3 cm above the right eyebrow. Superficial abrasions are present on the forehead above the right eye, over the bridge of the nose and upper lip, lower lip in the midline, 'upper and lower licks of the right eye and anterior right cheek. A gaping laceration is present along the lower margin of the right jaw which extends into the muscles of the floor of the mouth and measures 4 x 1.5 x 2 cm in depth. a vertical laceration is present just anterior and below the left ear and measures 2.5 x 0.8 x 0.8 cm. The skin and underlying muscles of the left shoulder and arm have been torn loose beginning at the base of the neck and extending down to the wrist. although some of the skin including the axillary hair and much of the shredded deltoid muscle remains around the shoulder, virtually all of the skin and muscles have been stripped from the humerous and forearm. The radius has been fractured 6 cm from the bend of the wrist. A silver ring is present on the fourth finger of the left hand. Two nearly round puncture wounds are present on the back of the right arm over the triceps, have abraded margins and are both surrounded by ecchymoses (dark bruising) measuring up to 2 cm in diameter. The puncture wounds measure 0.6 and 0.8 cm in diameter and l. 5 cm in depth. Several small bruises and superficial lacerations are present over the surface of the forearm. a silver ring with a blue setting is present on the fourth finger of the right hand. Gaping, transverse lacerations are present above each breast, measuring 6 and 8 cm in length, up to 3 cm in width and 2 cm in depth. three round puncture wounds with abraded margins are present over the sternum and range from 0.5 to 0.8 cm in diameter. Scattered superficial abrasions and. ecchymoses are also noted in this area. The skin of the entire abdomen and both flanks has been stripped away leaving only subcutaneous fat. On the anterior surface of the body, this area extends from 10 cm below the breasts to the supra pubic and inguinal areas, laterally to the mid-axillary line on the right and nearly to the middle of the back on the left. Ecchymotic stretch marks are present in the remaining immediately adjacent skin of the left inguinal area. Somewhat patterned areas of injury are noted on the skin margin of the left flank appear to correspond to the size and contour of the mouth of a bear. a similar patterned injury is present on the right buttock. this injury and one of those of the adjacent flank have lateral puncture wounds suggestive of the inprint of canine teeth. the two sets of wounds both measure 6 cm between punctures. Multiple irregular and non-patterned lacerations and abrasions are present in the remaining skin of the upper back, particularly in the area of the scapulae. The largest of these lacerations measures 8 cm in length and is located on the posterior right shoulder. Four transverse, gaping abrasions ranging from 4 to 6 cm in length and up to 2 cm in depth are present on the lateral right leg just below the buttock. Several superficial abrasions are noted on the left hip, a transverse, gaping laceration 15 cm in width and 3 cm in depth is present on the lateral aspect of the left thigh. Minor superficial abrasions are present over the lower, anterior aspect of both thighs and knees.
Her brain and internal organs are normal and undamaged, no internal bleeding is found.