“While the exact cause of death has not been determined, investigators have identified what appear to be defensive wounds on the victim’s forearms”, Yellowstone officials said in a Saturday news release.
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A park ranger found the man’s body on a popular off-trail area about half a mile from the Elephant Back Loop Trail.
The man was reported missing Friday morning when he did not report for work, officials said. His identity is being withheld pending notification of family members.
The victim’s body was found partially consumed and cached, or covered, in the vicinity of the Elephant Back Loop Trail near Lake Village on Friday afternoon. An experienced hiker, he had worked and lived in Yellowstone for five seasons, the statement said. One adult female grizzly and at least one cub were likely involved. A forensic autopsy is now scheduled for Monday.
The number of conflicts often varies from year to year because of factors like the availability of natural bear foods, grizzly population numbers, park visitors and park staffing.
Wildlife biologists have set traps in the area and, if they capture and identify a bear involved in the attack, the animal will be euthanized. Other rangers and wildlife biologists helped to gather evidence for bear DNA at the scene.
The area around Elephant Back Loop Trail has been closed to hikers while the investigation continues.
The last fatal grizzly bear-human encounters in Yellowstone took place in 2011, when bears killed two people in separate incidents.
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Nonetheless, Park officials advise any and all hikers in Yellowstone to stay on trails, hike in groups, make noise, carry bear spray and relay itineraries to friends and loved ones in case of emergency.
