Yellowstone national park has grizzly bear attack

Since 1986 Yellowstone National Park, located in Wyoming, had no records of tragic events. However, a 57-year-old man was killed at the park by a grizzly bear this week. While the man was hiking the park together with his wife, the couple accidentally presented a threat to the bear and the husband could not escape. When he realized the bear was after them, he told his wife to run and she did not see the attack happening.

Tragic Episode

According to the wife, the bear lifted her from the ground by grabbing her pack, but she fell and got scrapes and bruises. She began yelling for help, which attracted the attention from other hikers, and called 911 from her cell phone. But, once help came, it was already too late for her husband.

Officials from the park said that they do not want to overemphasize the episode. Even though it is tragic, the chances of something alike happening any time soon is still small. Director of the state Wyoming Travel and Tourism agency, Diane Shober said “This is a wild and natural park. At the same time, the likelihood of this happening again is small.”

Official Numbers

The park is estimated to be the home of more than 600 grizzly bears, considering that some believe that about 1000 live in the region. As a consequence of the interest in the exotic animal, the number of tourists that has been visiting the park has increased since 2009. During that year, about 3.3 million people visited the park. In 2010, the number went up to 3.6 million.

Other occurrences involving grizzly bears attacks have been noticed in 2010, but outside from the park. Two men were killed, one in June and another in July. The bears can get up to 6 feet tall and weigh 600 pounds. Only one attack with their paws is enough to destroy a person’s entire face.