Man fell 100 feet while being mauled to death by ‘surprised’ grizzly bear
BY Herschel Smith
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Anthony Pollio, 33, was hiking in Montana’s Glacier National Park on May 3 when he “surprised an adult male grizzly bear on the Mt. Brown Lookout trail,” according to an interagency report on the first deadly bear attack at the park in nearly 30 years.
“Darkness and deadfall on the trail would have prevented the bear and Mr. Pollio from seeing each other until they were very close,” the report stated, saying the protective grizzly launched an “intense” attack.
Pollio, of Davie, Florida, “fully discharged” his bear spray — but plunged 93 feet downslope “probably while the bear continued its attack,” the July 20 report stated.
Pollio managed to climb 18 feet back up the slope as the bear briefly halted its attack — before it “reengaged and killed Mr. Pollio,” the report stated.
There are several lessons here. (1) Glacier National Park. (2) Bear spray was “fully discharged.” (3) The bear reengaged. Let’s cover that again. He didn’t give it up. He didn’t run away. He didn’t stop. He reengaged and killed the man.
In other news from Montana, “animal advocates ask the state to demand hunters and hikers carry bear spray.
On Tuesday a coalition of grizzly bear advocates filed a petition with the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to require hunters and trappers to carry bear spray in the state. They argue that it will keep sportsmen safer and reduce grizzly bear mortality.
Local outlets are reporting 19 Montana groups and 46 individuals have backed the petition for “public safety.” The full text and the petitioning organizations and individuals have not yet been made available to the public …
Whatever. It’s just added weight. Carry a large bore firearm like a .44 magnum, .454 Casull or .45 SMC or Super.
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On July 28, 2026 at 5:49 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
Re: “Carry a large bore firearm like a .44 magnum, .454 Casull or .45 SMC or Super.”
Yes, absolutely do so – your life depends on it. And consider the hazards of hiking or camping alone. It cannot be guaranteed that the hapless victim would be alive today if he’d had one or two or more companions, but the odds would have been more in his favor.
Apex predators like bears are not easily dissuaded, but numbers do help. And a larger party of people will make more noise, therefore making it less likely that the bear will be startled and thereby moved to attack. Last but not least, if the worst happens and the bear does attack, your companions can help fight it off.
And if you survive the attack or another member of your group does, the others can render first aid and secure help, a medivac, etc.
Bears, like most mammals, instinctively fear fire. If you are in high-danger country where bears are concerned, and you find yourself stopped for any length of time, build a fire at once. If possible, a decent-sized one. It may be what keeps you alive. Don’t burn down the forest, but make yourself a fire.
Far as being on the trail goes, wear noise-makers and avoid areas of dense cover with limited visibility, if possible. The idea is that if there is a bear in the area, to have as much visual warning of his presence as possible. Use the terrain to your advantage, and not that of the bruin.
Your protective firearm should be cocked and locked and ready to fire at a moment’s notice, because that’s all you may have if attacked suddenly. A few moments to draw/present, aim and fire your defensive weapon.
If you have time, keeping firing until the animal is down and no longer a threat. Most guides recommend to clients that even bears that are down and not moving should be treated as potentially dangerous and not approached casually for some time afterwards.
Bears are remarkably tough creatures which can absorb an incredible amount of punishment yet still remain viable. Saw a story a while back about an adult black bear in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, MN, which got aggressive and had to be taken down by a guide and his three clients. The bear absorbed more than fifty pistol shots before finally succumbing to his wounds. The killing shots, according to their post-mortem necropsy – were a tight group of 10mm Auto shots into the heart and lungs – fired by the guide as the bear stood on its hind legs. That’s tough!
Around two-thirds of the shots didn’t make it through the bear’s thick layer of pre-hibernation fat tissue and muscle, to the thoracic cavity itself. A bear fattening up for the winter can have as much as 6-8″ of fat overlaid on top of its normal physique. That’s quite a shot trap.
On July 29, 2026 at 9:07 am, Fred said:
“If you have time, keeping firing until the animal is down and no longer a threat. Most guides recommend to clients that even bears that are down and not moving should be treated as potentially dangerous and not approached casually for some time afterwards.”
This is very solid advice, and applicable to any animal. I love being alone in the woods, but it’s not recommended at all.
On July 29, 2026 at 3:38 pm, Enter Sandalman said:
Bear Spray should be a large caliber weapon and you’ll need good shoes for running.
Saw an Alaska guide take one out on teevee with .308 and he was in tears afterward but said it was either us or him.
On July 30, 2026 at 5:26 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@Fred
If you are experienced and competent-enough, solo hikes and camping can be done. But precautions still apply. Leave an itinerary and schedule with someone you trust; let them know where you are and when you will return to civilization. That way, if you don’t pop up back on the grid when you should, they can search for you.
The biggest thing you give up solo is the ability to cover 360 degrees with your senses at one time. Two people can do a decent job of it, but it is hard work for one person.
That said, plenty of people like solo hikes and have survived them just fine. I wouldn’t recommend them for novices.
On August 3, 2026 at 7:08 am, J J said:
The full report here:
https://igbconline.org/wp-content/uploads/POLLIO-BOARD-OF-REVIEW-REPORT_FINAL.pdf
The guy made several fatal decisions. Being an “experienced hunter” doesn’t give you a pass on making intelligent decisions in the wild.
On August 4, 2026 at 8:38 pm, Latigo Morgan said:
Man, that’s a harsh way to go. Bear spray just means the bear gets some spice with his meal, is all. Never been overly impressed by it, especially after seeing the commies still walking around after being saturated with it by cops. (And yes, I’m talking about bear spray, not CS gas)
On August 9, 2026 at 5:14 pm, Joe Blow said:
How would a .357 magnum do? Biggest thing I own is a 686 4-inch barrel.
+P jacketed rounds? That’d make a hole, no?