Mauling victims recovering, names revealed
Hungry Horse News
The female victim of a bear mauling in Glacier National Park has now been released from the hospital and her father is now listed in satisfactory condition. Also, both of their names have been revealed.
Johan and Jenna Otter were attacked by a grizzly sow with cubs on Aug. 25 while hiking the Grinnell Glacier Trail. They apparently ran into the sow at close range, where they were repeatedly bitten and scratched, and then tumbled 30 to 50 feet down a cliff.
Their names were not released by the Park or the hospitals, but were revealed by San Diego Tribune-Union columnist Diane Bell on Thursday (Sept. 1), who interviewed some of Mr. Otter's co-workers.
Otter, who lives in Escondido, Calif. has worked more than 13 years at Scripps Memorial Hospital, where he is director of physical, speech and occupational therapy, according to Bell.
Mr. Otter's co-workers made him a big get-well card and were sending it to the hospital. Mr. Otter was severely injured in the incident, he had multiple bear and claw bites as the bear tore off his scalp. He also may have broken his neck, according to Jim and Kathy Knapp. Jim and Kathy were first on the scene of the bear mauling.
Mr. Knapp, an attorney from Grass Lakes, Mich. first treated the victims until Park rangers and medical personnel arrived.
Mr. Otter was initially in critical condition from his injuries. He was first transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center and then to Harborview Medical Center is Seattle, where he spent days in the hospital's intensive care unit. He is now listed in satisfactory condition. Jenna was released from KRMC for her injuries last Thursday.
Park rangers interviewed Jenna about the attack, but had yet to interview Mr. Otter as of presstime. The results of those interviews could have impacts on how the Park will deal with the bears. But at this point, it still appears the attack was a defensive action from a surprise encounter, said Park spokeswoman Melissa Wilson. Sows with cubs can be extremely dangerous and territorial.
The bears may have been from a different location in the Park, as they did not meet the description of bears that had been frequenting the area. They also haven't been spotted since. Chief Mountain subdistrict ranger Kathy Krisko is heading up the investigation.
The Park has not taken any action against the bears to date. The Grinnell Glacier Trail was closed for several days after the incident, but was reopened last Wednesday. The Park declined to release the names of the Otters after they specifically asked the Park Service not to. The Park concurred, its attorneys claimed the Otters privacy outweighed the public's right to know.