Bear injures hiker in ‘surprise encounter’ on Yellowstone trail, officials say
A solo hiker was injured in a “surprise encounter” with a bear on a Yellowstone National Park trail in Wyoming, the first such incident at the park in over four years, officials say.
The 29-year-old hiker was trekking Turbid Lake Trail, northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake, the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 16, the National Park Service said in a news release.
When the hiker was near Turbid Lake, he encountered the bear, park officials said.
While the hiker used bear spray, “the bear made contact,” leaving the hiker with significant injuries to his chest and left arm, officials said.
Park officials said National Park Service medics responded and helped the hiker to the trailhead.
The hiker was transported by ambulance to a medical clinic, then flown to a nearby hospital, officials said.
The hiker thought the bear to be a black bear; however, park officials said based on the bear’s location, size and behavior, it may have been a grizzly bear.
Park staff will perform a DNA analysis to try and confirm the bear’s species, according to officials.
Officials said they closed Turbid Lake Trail, adding that park staff was scouring the area to make sure other hikers were no longer on the trail.
“Because this incident was a defensive reaction by the bear during a surprise encounter, the park will not be taking any management action against the bear,” officials said, adding that the incident is under investigation with no additional details to be released at this time.
This bear encounter marks the first time a bear has injured a person in the park this year, officials said.
“The last incident was in May 2021 when a grizzly bear injured a solo hiker on the Beaver Ponds Trail in Mammoth Hot Springs,” according to park officials.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
- Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
- Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
- Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
- Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
- Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
- Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
- Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
- Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
- Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
- Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 10:43 AM with the headline "Bear injures hiker in ‘surprise encounter’ on Yellowstone trail, officials say."
