Park Hunter Attacked By Bear Identified

A 32-year-old Jackson hunter was injured by a bear in Grand Teton National Park just after 11:30 am Sunday after a chance encounter. The incident occurred along the east side of the Snake River between Blacktail Ponds and Glacier View Overlooks. Park Spokesperson Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles says Timothy Hix was carrying bear spray and following the recommended protocols for hunting in bear country when the attack occurred. Hix told rangers when he spotted the bear he dropped to the ground and covered his head. He did not fire any shots at the bear and he had not killed any elk on Sunday morning. Anzelmo-Sarles says a team of rangers responded to the scene along with Teton County Sheriffs deputies and provided emergency medical care to Hix before transporting him in a wheeled litter to the roadside where he was met by a park ambulance and transported to St. Johns Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. Law enforcement rangers and resource management personnel are currently conducting an investigation of the incident. At this point it is too early to determine what species of bear injured Hix or if this was a defensive or predatory encounter.  The area surrounding the site of the encounter has been temporarily closed in the interest of safety for hunters and the bear.  There have been only six reported bear attacks in the history of Grand Teton National Park- none were fatal.