Texas man shoots bear in Glacier Park

Two incidents last weekend in Glacier National Park left one hiker and one bear injured, with a trail closed down and under investigation.

The first incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. Saturday on the Mount Brown Lookout Trail, which originates across the road from Lake McDonald Lodge on the west side of the park. A bear charged a lone hiker from below the trail.

The hiker, a 57-year old man from Texas, discharged his bear spray canister and fired one round from his handgun. The wounded bear then ran away, leaving the hiker unharmed.

The hiker quickly turned around and hiked back to the trailhead, where he informed a park volunteer backcountry ranger. The volunteer then notified park dispatch.

Rangers closed the trail immediately and began a search for the wounded bear. Several employees were flown via helicopter to the top of Mount Brown to search from the top down, while others worked in from the trailhead.

It is unknown if the bear was a grizzly or black bear and the search was continuing Sunday afternoon. The trail will remain closed until further notice.

The second incident involved a 54-year old Kalispell woman who fell down a short distance from the Lunch Creek Drainage near the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The woman fell at 2:15 p.m. Saturday and dislocated her knee after the tumble. She was unable to hike back out, so her hiking companion traveled back to the road to look for help.

Two rangers found the hiker in rugged off-trail terrain, which was where the hikers were when the woman fell. More rangers were flown in via helicopter to provide medical assistance.

The rough terrain necessitated a helicopter lift. Flathead County Sheriff’s Office employees aboard the Two Bear Air helicopter hoisted her up and to West Glacier, where Three Rivers Ambulance was waiting to transport her to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

The official Glacier National Park press release on the incidents made a point to encourage hikers to go in groups, stay on designated trails and carry easily-accessible bear spray.

Hikers should make noise, avoid early-morning and late-day hiking and avoid trail running, as it can surprise a feeding bear.

A phone call for an update on the incidents to Denise Germann, Glacier National Park management assistant, was not immediately returned.