Yesterday (May 4), two hikers were attacked on the trail to Mystic Falls in Yellowstone National Park. Both were evacuated from the scene by emergency services personnel. Their condition is not currently known.
Mystic Falls is a popular hiking destination, not far from the Biscuit Basin thermal area. Although the trail originally went through Biscuit Basin, which is currently closed following the geothermal explosion in 2024, the Mystic Falls trail can still be accessed via a trail that bypasses the basin.
Yellowstone officials have closed Mystic Falls and surrounding areas while the incident is being investigated. The NPS has published a news release about the bear attack, in which it provides a map and detailed explanation of areas that are closed.
What do we know?
Beyond what the NPS released, we also have a story published in Cowboy State Daily, a Wyoming news source. It seems that another hiker, a Maryland man named Craig Lerman, found one of the victims. Lerman reported that he was “tore up pretty bad.” He called 911 and assisted the injured man until emergency services arrived.
According to Lerman, there were two sets of grizzly tracks. One set was large, the other smaller, indicating a strong possibility of a mother bear with a cub, which would have made this pair extremely dangerous to encounter.
What will happen to the bear?
It’s too soon to know for sure, but based on the evidence currently known, this would have been a defensive attack, by a mother protecting a cub, rather than an attack of aggression. If that is the case, it’s unlikely any action would be taken against the bear by Yellowstone authorities.
Should I avoid hiking in Yellowstone?
This type of incident is quite rare. Millions of people visit the park every year, and many of them come into much closer contact with bears than they should, yet bear-related injuries are rare. There have only been two incidents resulting in people being injured by a bear in the last 5 years. The last time a person was killed by a bear in Yellowstone was in 2015.
By all means, go on that hike! However, this doesn’t mean you should just go strolling about in the woods, either. You should be “bear aware,” and know both how to avoid encounters with bears as well as how to respond if you do happen to meet one. See our guide on how to handle bear encounters.
Also, pay attention to trail closures. Often, the park closes trails due to wildlife activity. Bears with cubs are a common reason for temporary closures in the spring. Don’t push your luck by entering closed areas.
If you have questions about a particular hike, talk to a ranger at one of Yellowstone’s visitor centers. They can tell you if it’s closed, and if it is, can recommend other hikes.
Leave a Reply