WEST GLACIER, Mont. — A South Florida man was killed in a suspected bear attack while hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana, according to news outlets in the Treasure State.
The outlets report that Anthony Pollio, 33, of Fort Lauderdale, had been reported missing on Monday after he didn’t return from a hike. He had last been heard from on Sunday.
He now leaves behind a mourning family.
“Anthony was a fearless man,” his father, Arthur Pollio, told Local 10 News on Friday. “He was an experienced hunter. Tons of experience. Educated. Very smart.”
His body was found on Wednesday with injuries “consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter,” park officials said.
Reports state his body was found about about 50 feet off the park’s Mt. Brown Trail, in a heavily wooded area.
“He saw a trail. It was only a few miles. It was daytime. His intention was to go up and see the sunset from the fire watch tower,” Nicholas Pollio, his brother said.
Arthur Pollio added, “We think on the way down he encountered a grizzly bear.”
“I believe he was probably accosted by the bear. Used the bear spray. He might have ran from there,” Arthur Pollio said. “I think the bear may have chased him down, grabbed him by the shoulder.”
Arthur Pollio said he believes investigators found his son, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, after finding the bear spray can.
Now the Pollio family is left in disbelief.
“He’s an educated man and the bear just attacked him and killed him,” Arthur Pollio said.
The Montana Free Press and Missoula-based television station KPAX report that the last fatal bear attack in the park happened nearly 30 years ago.
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