The father of a man who died following a suspected bear encounter at Glacier National Park in Montana has shared details about a voicemail his son left shortly before the tragedy.
Anthony Pollio, 33, was discovered dead last Wednesday (May 6) after telling relatives he planned to hike the Mt. Brown Trail. He was reported missing on May 4, and search efforts continued until his body was located two days later.
Glacier National Park said in a press release: “Search and rescue teams located some of Pollio’s personal items along the Mt. Brown Trail approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead, which prompted a focused search of the surrounding area. Pollio was discovered deceased approximately 50 feet off the trail in a densely wooded area with injuries consistent with a bear encounter.”
Officials currently say the evidence indicates a “surprise” bear attack is the likely cause of death.
Authorities say the investigation is still underway.
Anthony’s father, Arthur Pollio, has spoken with The Sun Sentinel in recent days, explaining that his son left him a voicemail while he was out in the mountains.
According to Arthur, the message included an update on how the hike was going and ended with Anthony telling his dad he loved him.
Arthur also remembered Anthony as “fearless,” describing him as a kind and smart person with a wide range of interests.
He said the Florida native enjoyed car racing and had been hunting for around 20 years.
“His life experiences in 33 years, some people don’t get to do ’til they’re 90 or their whole life,” Arthur added.
In an interview with WPLG Local 10, Arthur said he believes his son was already heading back down when the encounter occurred.
“I believe he was probably accosted by the bear,” Arthur added. “Used the bear spray. He might have ran from there. I think the bear may have chased him down, grabbed him by the shoulder.”
Anthony’s brother, Nicholas, also spoke to the outlet, sharing what he understood about the plan for that day and what may have happened near the end of the hike.
“He saw a trail. It was only a few miles. It was daytime,” he said. “His intention was to go up and see the sunset from the fire watch tower.”
As of this past weekend, the Mt. Brown Trail remained closed. Park officials said: “Park staff are working to determine next steps based on field assessments and wildlife behavior monitoring.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].