Posted on 05/22/2026 6:25:55 AM PDT by marktwain
The recent fatal bear attack where 33-Year-Old Anthony Pollio was killed by a bear, about May 3, 2026, on the Mount Brown trail in Glacier National Park, is not the first bear attack on the trail. Some online sources are saying an empty can of bear spray was found at the attack site.
If so, the attack is another case where bear spray was used in defense against a bear, and people died.
There have been at least nine deaths associated with the use of bear spray in defense against a bear. There have not been any recorded deaths when a handgun has been fired in defense against a bear in North America. One person was killed in the Svalbard Islands, attempting to defend against a polar bear attack with a .22 pistol in 1995.
The last fatal bear attack in Glacier National Park occurred on May 18, 1998. 26-Year-Old Craig Dahl was killed by a human-habituated bear in a predatory attack. The park had experienced 8 non-fatal attacks on people in the park in the previous three years. Between the 1998 fatal attack and 2010, there were six more attacks. At least six bears were killed that had some connection to the attacks. Only one more attack was recorded in Glacier before 2014.
In 2014, Brian Murphy was attacked by a grizzly bear on the Mount Brown Trail in Glacier National Park. This correspondent wrote about it in October of 2014. The facts of the case are simple.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
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I pack on the trail; but, mostly to ward off the two-legged predators.
I can see why the bear has a sh*t eating grin on its face..
Yes, the 10mm is becoming popular.
But it is not a magic wand.
It is a 200gr bullet at about 1200fps.
I have found the S@W 2.0 in 10mm to fit my hand better allowing for faster follow up shots.
The Glock 20 grip just too big for many.
Any handgun caliber that gives you approximately the same ballistics. Works just fine.
If one owns a good revolver or other handgun of appropriate caliber no need to trade it in on a 10mm.
Most people don’t realize that bear sprays have an expiration date after which it looses potency. I tested an old can I had for several years by spraying some an walking near it and no effect.
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