A man from Florida, Anthony Pollio, died in Glacier National Park after a surprise bear attack according to an interagency report. Pollio, 33, went missing after setting out to watch the sunset and was later confirmed to have died from a grizzly bear encounter.

The incident happened in early May and is the first fatal bear attack in the park since 1998. Pollio had been traveling on a multi-day road trip and entered the park on May 3. He intended to watch the sunset from the Mt. Brown Lookout.

According to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) report, Pollio started his hike at around 6:30 p.m. He texted his girlfriend about his progress, stating he climbed over 2,000 feet but had 2,400 feet to go. That message was his last known contact.

Mount Brown is nestled behind Bearhat Mountain in Glacier National Park.

A search for Pollio began the next afternoon after he was reported overdue. On May 6, search teams located his remains below the Mt. Brown trail, about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. He had significant trauma to his head and face and bite marks on his body. His ear was found near his body.

Investigators discovered claw marks on a nearby tree and a stone displaced, suggesting the bear launched its attack from there. An empty can of bear spray was found at the scene.

The IGBC believes Pollio likely surprised the bear in low light or darkness. During the intense encounter, Pollio used his bear spray before tumbling down the slope. He attempted to climb back up, but the bear attacked again, resulting in fatal injuries.

DNA evidence indicates the bear involved is an adult male around 15 years old, with no known history of aggression towards humans. The report describes the incident as a defensive attack by a startled bear.

Park authorities continue to caution visitors about bear activity, noting that over a dozen trails in Glacier are known for bear presence. Around Pollio’s death, multiple bear warnings were issued, including in Yellowstone National Park where two hikers were injured.

Despite rising wildlife activity, incidents involving animals remain rare. Few of the over 200 deaths in national parks last year were attributed to wildlife.