News Release

Solo hiker injured by bear on Sept. 16 in Yellowstone National Park

Turbid Lake

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

News Release Date: September 16, 2025

Contact: Public Affairs Office, [phone]

Incident details

• On the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 16, a male, age 29, sustained injuries from a bear while hiking on the Turbid Lake Trail, located northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake.
• The incident occurred approximately 2.5 miles from the Pelican Valley Trailhead in the Pelican Valley Bear Management Area.
• The male was hiking alone when he encountered the bear near Turbid Lake. The hiker began to deploy bear spray when the bear made contact, and he sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm. National Park Service medics responded to the incident and walked out with the hiker.
• Once arriving to the trailhead, NPS transported the hiker in a park ambulance to the Lake Medical Clinic. He was then flown to a nearby hospital for treatment.
• The hiker thought the bear was a black bear; however, the location, size, and behavior of the described bear suggest it might have been a grizzly bear. Bear management staff will attempt to confirm the species through DNA analysis, if possible.
• The Turbid Lake Trail is closed until further notice. Bear management staff are sweeping the trail to ensure no other hikers are on the trail. Visit Backcountry Conditions for status and conditions of park trails.
• Because this incident was a defensive reaction by the bear during a surprise encounter, the park will not be taking any management action against the bear.
• This incident remains under investigation and there are no further details to share at this time.
• This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2025. The last incident was in May 2021 when a grizzly bear injured a solo hiker on the Beaver Ponds Trail in Mammoth Hot Springs.

Be bear aware to help avoid surprise bear encounters

• Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
• Be alert. See the bear before you surprise it. Watch for fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites (signs of digging, rolled rocks, torn up logs, ripped open ant hills).
• Make noise.
• Hike in groups of three or more people.
• Stay 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears at all times.
• Stay on trail and don't hike at dawn, dusk, or at night, when grizzlies are most active.
• Don’t run from a bear. 

Duration:

1 minute, 3 seconds

Bear spray is proven to be highly successful at stopping aggressive behavior in bears. Bear Management Biologist Kerry Gunther walks through the steps to deploy bear spray.

More Information

• 

  Backcountry Safety

  Stay safe in Yellowstone’s backcountry! Carry bear spray, store food properly, check weather, and be prepared for changing conditions.

• 

  Bear Management

  Learn how the park manages bears and the people who come to see them.

• 

  Backcountry Conditions

  Check the map for trail status and review detailed conditions. Use in conjunction with weather reports and assessment of your own skill.