Woman Dies Near Yellowstone in First Grizzly Attack of 2023

A woman was found dead after what biologists say was a grizzly attack on the Buttermilk Trail near the town of West Yellowstone, Montana.

The incident marks the first fatal grizzly attack in North America in 2023. An Arizona man was killed by a black bear earlier this year in what officials believe was an unprovoked attack.

This latest tragedy appears to have been instigated by a female grizzly with at least one cub. The woman, identified as 48-year-old Amie Adamson of Derby, Kansas, was hiking or running alone about eight miles west of West Yellowstone. She "would do so often" in the early morning, according to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, but she was not carrying bear spray or a firearm.

"After investigation, the bear attack did not appear to be predatory. Amie’s cause of death was determined to be exsanguination due to a bear mauling. The manner is accidental," the Sheriff's Office said. "Exsanguination" is death due to severe blood loss.

A hiker found Adamson deceased on the Buttermilk Trail early Saturday morning, and game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) responded to the scene, according to a press release. Bear specialists, along with staff from other agencies, examined Adamson's injuries and determined that they were consistent with a bear attack. They also found tracks from an adult grizzly bear and at least one cub near the site.

Their search did not uncover any day beds or animal carcasses, indicating that the bear could have been passing through the area when the encounter occurred.

Amie Adamson on a trip to Mt. Rushmore in 2017. Photo via: Amie Adamson Facebook

The Custer Gallatin National Forest implemented an emergency closure of the area as a safety precaution, and residents were warned of bear activity in the area. The incident occurred close to residences, campgrounds, and a high-use OHV trail system.

Montana’s bear management plan for the southwest portion of the state calls for lethal removal of bears that display predatory behavior, but lethal removal is considered on a case-by-case basis for bears that kill humans in surprise encounters. One of the primary situations in which a female grizzly might attack a human is when she is surprised and trying to defend her cubs, according to the plan.

Wildlife officials have placed bear traps for three nights in a row, but have so far been unsuccessful in their efforts to capture the offending grizz. Investigators did not see any bears when they initially responded to the incident, and subsequent searches from aircraft haven’t turned up any grizzlies.

Adamson's mother described her as a hiker, marathon runner and "just a beautiful free spirit," CBS Wichita KWCH-TV reported.

"She lived for experiences," Janet Adamson said. "God is so good. He took her by nature, not by any evil deed, bad accident or bad illness. He took her where she was out doing what she loved and that gives us comfort."

Adamson was a former English teacher in Kansas who left teaching in 2015 and published a book titled, "Walking Out," which described her experience walking across America.

As the population of grizzly bears grows in Montana, FWP is warning residents that conflicts could become more common each year. Last year there were at least two fatal grizzly attacks last year in North America, one in Alaska and one in Montana. In 2021, Alberta saw at least three attacks and Montana saw two.

One 2021 attack in Montana also occurred near the town of West Yellowstone. In that incident, an old boar killed a 40-year-old man in what investigators believe was an attempt to defend a cache of food. That bear was killed after it charged investigators.

Montana FWP encourages recreators to carry bear spray, travel in groups, avoid animal carcasses, and keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional information about the victim.

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