Saddened by this tragedy: Woman found dead after suspected bear encounter in Yellowstone National Park
The incident follows a spate of recent bear attacks nationwide.
A woman was found dead after what authorities said was “an apparent bear encounter” near Yellowstone National Park in Montana.
The deadly incident follows a spate of fatal or serious bear attacks nationwide, including Arizona, North Carolina, and Colorado.
Authorities located a woman’s body on Saturday morning on Buttermilk Trail west of West Yellowstone, Montana, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Authorities said grizzly bear tracks were found at the scene. An investigation is ongoing.
Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas, was identified by her family as the victim of the bear attack. Working in Yellowstone for the summer, Adamson was on a morning hike when she was attacked by a mother bear, according to her mother Janet Adamson.
“She was a free spirit adventurer that loved the outdoors, hiked, ran and explored. She died doing something she loved in a place she loved…,” Janet Adamson wrote in a Facebook post.
Citing human safety, the Custer Gallatin National Forest implemented an emergency closure of the Buttermilk Area, according to wildlife officials. The closure area is located about 8 miles from West Yellowstone.
The population of grizzly bears has grown in recent years, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a statement.
Last month, a 66-year-old man was killed by a bear in Arizona in what authorities called a “highly unusual,” unprovoked attack.
The victim — identified as Steven Jackson, of Tucson — was in the process of building a cabin in the area, authorities said. He was sitting in a chair outside of his campsite when a bear attacked him, according to Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes.
In another bear-related incident, a 35-year-old sheepherder was attacked by a black bear in San Juan National Forest in Colorado on July 11, according to the state’s parks and wildlife department.
The man was severely wounded and sustained injuries to his head, left hand and arm, back and lef
t hip, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.
