Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 1:45 p.m. to include new information from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
WILSON, Wyo. — Heads up, hikers.
Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) announced an emergency trail closure Monday evening, noting that the History Trail would be closed from the Trail Creek area to the top of Teton Pass.
“Closure is due to ongoing investigation of human and bear encounter,” BTNF shared to social media. “Please avoid the area.”
A subsequent press release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) noted that a woman who was hiking with her dogs sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a surprise encounter with what was presumed to be a black bear sow with at least one cub.
“She was well-prepared and successfully deployed bear spray during the incident,” WGFD’s statement reads. “Following the encounter, she was able to walk back to the trailhead and was subsequently treated at a local hospital for her injuries.”
WGFD personnel checked out the scene immediately. The investigation determined the bear was acting defensively in the surprise encounter, which occurred “in an area characterized by dense vegetation and low visibility,” per the agency. No bears were located at the site, and no further management actions are planned.
“Our thoughts are with the individual who was injured, and we wish her a full and speedy recovery,” Jackson Regional Wildlife Supervisor Brad Hovinga said in the release. “We are grateful she was well-prepared and carried bear spray, which can make all the difference in these unpredictable situations.”
Note that bears are entering hyperphagia at this time of year, meaning they are focused on consuming maximum calories ahead of winter hibernation, and thus actively seeking food sources throughout the region. Revisit these tips for recreating in bear country.
