MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – On the afternoon of May 4, two hikers sustained injuries by one or more bears on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.
National Park Service emergency services personnel responded to the incident, and it remains under investigation. No further information is available at this time.
This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2026. The last time a visitor was injured by a bear in the park was in September 2025. The last human fatality caused by a bear occurred in 2015 in the Lake Village area of the park.
Temporary closures pending completion of investigation
Visit Backcountry Conditions for status and conditions of park trails and backcountry campsites. Hikers and anglers should be aware of temporary closures.
Be alert. See the bear before you surprise it. Watch for fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites (signs of digging, rolled rocks, torn up logs, ripped open ant hills)
Make noise
Hike in groups of three or more people
Don’t hike at dawn, dusk, or at night, when grizzlies are most active
About the National Park Service. The National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.
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