June 26, 1998 Missoulian article by Michael Jamison. Same Glacier bear is thought to have killed a hiker in May
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - A young grizzly bear, suspected of consuming a hiker last month, charged and circled a group of tourists Wednesday.
At about 2 p.m., the sub adult male approached a tour group near the head of Two Medicine Lake, in the southeastern corner of Glacier National Park. The bear, said park spokesperson Amy Vanderbilt, woofed at the 17 visitors, bluff charged and circled.
"Unfortunately, his behavior was more aggressive than we had expected, and that is certainly cause for concern," said Chief Ranger Steve Frye.
Earlier this month, the bear's mother and sister were killed after DNA tests indicated the family group had consumed a hiker. Investigators concluded the trio pursued, killed and ate 26-year-old Craig DahI.
The Colorado man was last seen alive leaving for a solo hike on May 17. remains were discovered three days later. Following the DNA testing, a sub adult female was captured in a culvert trap, where she was kept alive to lure her brother. The older sow was killed while still roaming the Two Medicine Valley. The young female was later euthanised, as the sub adult male failed to turn up.
"He had essentially dropped out of sight within a week of the fatality," Frye said.
The young bruin popped back into sight Wednesday, sending the guided hiking group scrambling back toward the lake's edge. A tour boat was summoned, Fry said, and the tourists were shipped safely to the foot of the lake.
The guide, who works for the boat company, remained at the head of the lake, warning other hikers about the bear's presence. He later identified the culprit by distinguishing ear tags, placed on the bear two years ago.
The tags, Vanderbilt said, are reminders of the first time this particular bear bumped into civilization. He and his mother were captured just outside the eastern boundary of the park, where they were spending their days licking barbecue grills.
The family of bears had shown no aggressive behavior since that time, Vanderbilt said, until the May 17 incident. Even while investigators were in the area piecing together Dahl's death, the sub adult male remained wary of people, Frye said.
Wednesday's confrontation, he said, is a "clear indication that he's lost his fear of humans."
Searchers have been combing the area since Wednesday, and except for a short glimpse early on, have seen no sign of the bear.
The upper Two Medicine area has been closed to hikers, and at least two parties of campers have been escorted from the back country, Frye said.
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