The National Park Service has identified a hiker found dead in Glacier National Park last week as Anthony Pollio, a 33-year-old man from Davie, Florida.
Search and rescue crews recovered Pollio’s body around noon on Wednesday, May 6th, roughly 50 feet off the Mt. Brown Trail in a densely wooded area. His injuries were consistent with a bear encounter.
Pollio had communicated plans on Sunday, May 3rd, to hike the Mt. Brown Trail toward the Mt. Brown Fire Lookout. Park officials were notified of his disappearance Monday afternoon and immediately launched search and rescue operations.
Crews located some of Pollio’s personal belongings approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead, which focused the search on the surrounding area. He was found deceased shortly after.
Investigators believe the encounter was a surprise attack, though the full sequence of events remains under investigation.
The section of trail where Pollio was found has been temporarily closed while park staff conduct field assessments and monitor wildlife behavior in the area. Visitors can check current closure information on the NPS Trail Status Reports page and are urged to stay off all closed trails.
The identity was withheld until 72 hours after next-of-kin notification, per standard NPS protocol.
Glacier National Park is home to a healthy population of both grizzly and black bears. The NPS recommends hikers carry bear spray, make noise on the trail, and never hike alone in bear country. A surprise encounter, as evidence suggests occurred here, happens when a bear is unaware of a hiker’s presence until they are dangerously close.
