WEST GLACIER - Two people hiking in Glacier National Park Saturday were attacked and injured when they surprised a grizzly bear along a backcountry trail east of Lake McDonald, park officials said.
The 15-second attack occurred as the hikers were returning from an overnight trip to the Snyder Lake backcountry campground.
Officials said the victims were Andrea Haver, 22, of Davis, Calif., and Theron Jourda, 19, of Portland, Ore., both summer employees in West Glacier.
The pair had just crossed Snyder Creek when Haver saw the bear about 10 feet away and dropped to a fetal position. She felt the weight of the bear on her but suffered only minor scratches on her shoulder, officials said.
Jourda ran at the bear and hit it in the side, distracting it from Haver, and then dropped into a fetal position. He suffered deep puncture wounds on his shoulder and upper arm.
Officials said Haver and Jourda returned to the campground where two Whitefish men administered first-aid and then the four walked 4 1/2 miles back to Lake McDonald Lodge.
Rangers closed the trail as soon as the attack was reported but said no action was planned against the bear "as it appears the bear reacted in a natural defensive way to a surprise encounter with hikers on the trail," officials said.
CAG Comment:
No planned action against the bear, it reacted in a natural defensive way to a surprise encounter. Yet the area was closed. That appears to CAG to mean the action taken was against the people. This same type of reaction would occur if we had bears reintroduced into the Bitterroot/Selway wilderness: people are to blame when bears attack. This appears to be the standard position of the extreme environmentalists that have captured our federal agencies.
End CAG Comment:
Hikers in the park should be alert to signs of bear activity, such as fresh digging and scat, Glacier officials warned. They should make noise while on trails, especially around blind corners, areas of dense vegetation and in noisy areas like rushing streams.
Information on how to avoid bear encounters is available at the park entrances, rangers stations and visitor centers.