 A 34-year-old female hiker was injured by a brown colored bear near Lake Janet inside Glacier National Park on Wednesday, August 27th, 2025. Park officials confirmed that the woman and one person were hiking near Lake Janet when a medium-brown colored bear with two cubs charged out of the brush toward the woman.
The woman dove off the trail while covering her head. The bear swiped at her resulting in injuries to her shoulder and arm. As the bear was the woman, her partner blasted it with bear spray and the bears ran off immediately. The encounter lasted less than 30 seconds.
The two hikers make their way towards the Lake Janet Wilderness Campground where they found other hikers with an InReach device which they used to send an SOS to park dispatch. Park staff and an ALERT helicopter were dispatched, located the woman in stable condition and transported her to Logan Health in Kalispell.
No action will be taken against the bear as the encounter was deemed a surprise to a sow with two cubs that reacted defensively. Park staff have temporarily closed The Lake Janet Wilderness Campground and will reopen when deemed appropriate.
Glacier National Park Press Release:
WEST GLACIER, Mont. [August 28, 2025] – A 34-year-old, female hiker was injured by a brown colored bear on Wednesday, at approximately 3:15 pm at Lake Janet in Glacier National Park.
The hiking party of two was hiking westbound near Lake Janet when a medium brown colored bear with two cubs charged out of the brush, toward the woman. The woman dove off the trail, while covering her head. The bear swiped at her, injuring her shoulder and arm. As this was happening, her hiking partner deployed bear spray, causing the bear to immediately run away. The entire incident lasted fewer than 30 seconds. The hiking party continued toward the Lake Janet Wilderness Campground where they found other hikers with an InReach device, which they used to send an SOS to park dispatch.
At approximately 3:42 pm park dispatch received the SOS for a female who had an encounter with a brown colored sow. Park staff and ALERT were dispatched. ALERT quickly got to the patient, finding her in stable condition. ALERT transported the woman to Logan Health in Kalispell.
No action will be taken against the bear at this time, the encounter was a surprise to a sow with two cubs that reacted defensively. The area of the trail the hiking party was on is confined by the lake and dense brush, which the bear came out of. The species of the bear could not be positively identified.
The Lake Janet Wilderness Campground was temporarily closed and will reopen when deemed appropriate by park staff. For information on trail closures in the park, visit the park’s trail status webpage.
Visitors are reminded that the fall season is when bears are more likely to be active due to hyperphagia. As bears prepare for the long winter, during which they will hibernate, they need to eat as much as they can to prepare to go months without food. For more information about recreating in bear country, please visit the park’s bear safety webpage.
RELATED: Hikers Endure Intense Grizzly Bear Encounter @ Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park Bear Encounter Safety Guidelines:
Bear Encounters
If you encounter a bear inside the minimum recommended safe distance (100 yards; 91 m), you can decrease your risk by following these guidelines:
- If a bear or other animal is moving in your direction on a trail, get out of its way and let it pass.
- If you can move away, do so. If moving away appears to agitate the bear, stop. In general, bears show agitation by swaying their heads, huffing, and clacking their teeth. Lowered head and laid-back ears also indicate aggression. Bears may stand on their hind legs or approach to get a better view, but these actions are not necessarily signs of aggression. The bear may not have identified you as a person and may be unable to smell or hear you from a distance. Help the bear recognize you as a friendly human.
- Talk quietly.
- Do not run! Back away slowly. Stop if it seems to agitate the bear.
- Use your peripheral vision. Bears may interpret direct eye contact as threatening.
- Continue to move away as the situation allows.
- If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If you are preparing or consuming food, secure it. DO NOT LET THE BEAR GET YOUR FOOD!
- If a bear approaches in a defensive manner (appears agitated and/or charges), stop. Do not run. Talk quietly to the bear. Prepare to deploy your bear spray. If contact appears imminent and you do not have bear spray, protect your chest and abdomen by falling to the ground on your stomach, clasp your hands around the back of your neck, and leave your pack on for protection. If the bear attempts to roll you over, try to stay on your stomach. If the attack is defensive, the bear will leave once it recognizes you are not a threat. If the attack is prolonged, FIGHT BACK!
For more detailed information, watch our Bear Safety video.
Bear Spray
This aerosol pepper spray temporarily incapacitates bears. It is an effective, non-toxic, and non-lethal means of deterring aggressive bears. Under no circumstances should bear spray create a false sense of security or serve as a substitute for practicing standard safety precautions.
Bear spray is intended to be sprayed into the face of an oncoming bear. Factors influencing effectiveness include distance, wind, rain, temperature extremes, and product shelf life. It is not intended to act as a repellent. Do not spray gear or your camp with bear spray. Pre-sprayed objects may instead attract bears.
Be aware that you may not be able to cross the US/Canada border with some brands of bear spray. Canadian Customs will allow USEPA-approved bear spray to cross. The bear spray cannister must have USEPA printed on the label.
