Yellowstone National Park has been dealing with grizzly attacks which have left four people injured. Two separate attacks took place, leaving visitors with minor injuries.
A grizzly bear attacked two hikers on a trail near Canyon Village Thursday in the north-central portion of the park. The female bear lashed out after the hikers came across its young cub which was born over the winter, park spokesman Al Nash said, according to the Associated Press. Officials decided to not pursue the bear.
"This bear by all accounts was acting on instinct, defending its cub. That is natural and normal behavior for a sow grizzly," Nash said Friday.
The victims have not been identified. One was taken to a hospital and treated for bite and claw wounds and was later released. The other victim was treated at the scene. Both of the victims claimed that they used bear spray during the attack and then they dropped to the ground and pretended they were dead.
"Which is what we advise hikers to do when they find themselves in that type of situation," Nash said.
Later in the day, two Bureau of Land Management contract workers were attacked by a bear about 70 miles west of the other attack.
"They were about 40 feet out, and a bear under a tree just came up at them. It hit the first fellow, bit him in the thigh and backside," Idaho Department of Fish and Game spokesman Gregg Losinski told AP. "The second person got out his bear spray. When the bear hit him, it bit his hand."
The workers were treated at a hospital in Idaho and were later released.
Grizzly bear attacks have been occurring more often around Wyoming, Montana and Idaho as the bear population is growing. Four people have been killed by grizzly bears near Yellowstone over the past three years.
At least three other people were wounded during attacks in the Rockies this year and there may be even more attacks as hunters head to the area to hunt elk in the fall.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
