Hiker In Yellowstone National Park Killed By Grizzly Bear, Has Been Identified

Park officials say the adult female bear was killed Thursday because it had eaten part of the Montana man’s body and hid the rest.

The body of 63 year old Lance Crosby was found near Elephant Back Loop trail near Yellowstone Lake Friday.

Wildlife biologists have set bear traps in the area and if any captured beasts are identified as having been involved in the attack, they will be killed.

In order to identify the bear, researchers will compare the captured bear’s DNA samples and paw tracks to those found at the scene. That was tragic. But now, according to The Telegraph, a momma grizzly and her two cubs may face a similar fate if a DNA test proves they were responsible for the hiker’s death.

“Definitely (take) bear spray and just know how to use it”, said wildlife photographer Elaine Haberland.

“The decision to euthanize a bear is one that we do not take lightly. The primary goals of this program are to minimize bear-human interactions, prevent human-caused displacement of bears from prime food sources, and to decrease the risk of bear-caused human injuries”. By Saturday evening, preliminary results of the investigation into the death of the hiker showed that the man was attacked by a grizzly bear. “Predatory attacks usually persist until the bear is scared away, overpowered, injured or killed”.

If so, park officials have said the adult animal will be euthanized out of concern for public safety. Of course, this is a horrific tragedy, but there is no reason at all to kill the bear and her cubs in return.

Park officials also revealed that the bears two cubs could be sentenced to a similar fate, if they are unable to relocate the young bears to a zoo or rehabilitation facility.

Crosby – who had been working for Medcor, an organization which runs urgent care clinics in the park – was hiking alone, against park recommendations, and was not carrying bear spray.

According to the National Park Service (NPS), about 674 to 839 grizzly bears dwell in the Greater Yellowstone region, which is one of the last remaining large ecosystems in the northern temperate zone.

If so, park officials have said the female will be euthanized.

Spare the bears, National Parks Service.

Once the hike is underway, periodically yell, “Hey bear” to alert animals that there are humans nearby, which will give them time to leave the area.

The grizzly’s cubs will not be able to survive without it, said Yellowstone spokeswoman Amy Bartlett.