Grizzly Bear with Cubs Mauls/Kills Yellowstone Hiker

by Ben O'Brien • July 7, 2011 • 18 comments

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — A 57-year-old hiker was killed Wednesday morning in Yellowstone National Park when he and his wife encountered a sow grizzly bear with cubs.

Torrence, California native Brian Matayoshi and his wife Marylin were hiking along the Wapiti Lake Trail, which is a 32-mile round trip hike that starts at the Upper Falls trail head just south of Canyon Village and spans east to Wapiti Lake.

According to NBCMontana.com, the couple were a mile and half away from the trailhead, hiking west towards their vehicle mid-morning when they arrived at an open meadow after traveling through a forested area. Matayoshi spotted the bear and her cubs 100 yards away and immediately started to back track away from the bear. When the couple turned around to look, they saw the horrifying site of the sow running down the trail after them.

The couple immediately started running, but the bear caught Brian, savaging the hiker with multiple bite and claw wounds. The bear then turned her attention to Marylin who was now laying down near her fallen husband. The bear chomped down on her day pack, lifting her up, before slamming her back to the ground. As Marylin lay still, the grizzly sow eventually left, leaving Marylin frantically calling 911 and screaming out to other hikers.

When park rangers arrived, Brian Matayoshi was pronounced dead at the scene.

The attack occurred just south of Canyon Village along the Wapiti Lake Trail.

“It is extremely unfortunate that this couple’s trip into the Yellowstone backcountry has ended in tragedy,” said Dan Wenk, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. “Our heart goes out to the family and friends of the victim as they work to cope with their loss.”

RELATED BLOG CONTENT: Ignorance & Death – Grizzly Attack


This is the first bear fatality in Yellowstone since 1986 and the National Park Service has gone out of its way to make sure backcountry hikers are well prepared for traveling in bear country. The Backcountry Trip Planner — available to all visitors to Yellowstone — includes multiple pages on how to stay “bear safe” while hiking.

According to the literature, if hikers encounter bears in the backcountry, there are several things you can do to hopefully come out unscathed.

  • Stay calm
  • Do not run or make sudden movements
  • Back away slowly
  • Talk quietly to the bear, do not shout
  • Do not drop your pack
  • Avoid looking directly at the bear

In bear country, hikers are encouraged to carry bear pepper spray, as it has been shown to be an effective deterrent. Another back-up option is a lightweight large-caliber handgun like a Smith & Wesson 460ES. The Matayoshi’s were carrying neither.

Only bears that have shown to be problems in the past through tagging/releasing efforts are destroyed as a result of attacks on humans. This bear has never shown prior aggression and it’s believed the sow was acting purely in a defensive manner towards her cubs when the Matayoshi’s encountered her.

All hiking trails in the area have been closed and will remain so for several days.

In Big Game, Uncategorized • Tagged ,
  • Conrad Evarts

    According to KBZK in Bozeman, they ran and they lacked bear spray or a firearm. http://www.kbzk.com/full-coverage/yellowstone-fat…

  • John

    There were earlier reports, shortly after this happened, that this couple had seen this bear earlier in the day and continued on with their hike only to run into the bear a second time, with fatal and tragic results. I am not seeing this info in more recent reports. One way or another, it looks like these folks had not taken into account the fact that, while in bear country, they might run into a bear. People need to remember to carry pepper spray and let their presence be known (make some noise). Bears have excellent hearing and don't want any more to do with us than we want to do with them.

  • Dale Brenner

    It is very unfortunate but if they were going to hike in bear country they should have spoken to park rangers first to see just what type of equiptment is necessary.

  • Tim Woods

    This is why firearms should be allowed on parks. For get a 44magnum A hand gun is not what you need. A 12guage slug shotgun, Or better a 338 or my pick a 375 will I promise give a big bear a bad day. THIS SHOULD BE LAST RESORT.

    • Adam

      I live up in Alaska, and have years of backcountry time, and unless its a mega ultralight hike ( I'll only bring Bear mace ) But the rest of the time, Day and overnight trips, or trips where weight isnt a issue, i bring both a 12g shotgun with 3" bear slugs, and my bear mace… And i havent had to use either cause i make plenty of noise while hiking

  • Jay

    It's a tragedy, no question. I hope park rangers don't shoot the bear, though – it was just doing what a sow grizzly is supposed to do, namely, protecting her young from a threat, be it real or perceived.

  • Jeff

    This is very unfortunate but this is what happens when we are around nature. My condolences go out to the young lady and his family. Always be alert to your surroundings when you out in the wilderness.

    I think there should be a mandatory list of things to carry with you at the rangers office for people to be a little more safe when hiking.

  • M. Cory

    She was doing what all Mothers should do….protect their young!

    WE have to be ready at all times when your outdoors, it belongs to all the

    wildlife, it's their home and we have to treat it as such. A .44 Magnum is

    more that enough to handle the situation in the hands of a skilled shooter!

    Park rangers in Alaska carry .40 cal S&W and have killed two killer bears

    with the .40! A park ranger dispatched a Grizzly with a .357 magnum.

    Enjoy the outdoors and remember your in someone home!

  • JOHN CHRISTIANSEN

    CARRYING A FIREARM FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION IS ALLOWED IN THE PARK NOW. IT IS PURE STUPIDITY TO GO INTO REMOTE COUNTRY, UN-ARMED. FORGET ABOUT BEAR SPRAY – IT IS NOTHING BUT A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

  • Chuck Largent

    You really think you can be prepared for an attack from a mother grizzly ? If you were lucky enough to be carrying a gun, you might have 5 seconds to get it out, get ready and fire killing shots. Most avid hunters couldn't do that, your average hiker ? 98% of people have never even fired a gun. Pepper spray might make you feel safe, but I question it really having an affect on a mad mama. In Washington State we are preparing to add them ???? Wise ?

    • Russell

      98% of people have never fired a gun!? I don't know where you're getting your information Chuck, but it is certainly wrong. Gallup says that 3 in 10 Americans own a gun, so far more have shot one. And yes, especially in this case you would have more than enough time to pull your gun and ready yourself to shoot if necessary. The story says that they first saw the bear at 100 yards.

      http://www.gallup.com/poll/20098/gun-ownership-us…

    • Russell

      Not to mention that 5 seconds is more than enough time to draw, aim, and fire in the event that you had to.

  • Rory S

    Interesting comments. I hunted just outside Yellowstone on two occasions, in an area with frequent griz sightings. Along with my .300 Win. Mag elk gun, I carried a .44 mag S & W revolver (because I had not yet bought my Taurus 454 Casull) PLUS a good sized cannister of bear spray. The host at our camp, a retired 29yr Yellowstone ranger, said bear spray had saved him from 3 different grizzlies, while on the job, as a ranger. He opined, after investigating many, and reading of many more griz encounters, that most who had to rely solely on firearms at extremely close (10-30ft) distances, were ultimately chomped on, albeit not all were killed. He said, and I agreed, at "combat distance, " I'd rather rely on the bear spray. But, what do I know, I've never had a griz encounter. Thoughts and prayers for the victim and to his family.

  • http://aol Chris R

    Yellowstone is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. It's nice to know that personal protection firearms are now allowed in the park. When I visited in '05 they weren't, but we did purchase the lg can of bear spray in Gardinier, MT. Grizzly's are pert of the habitat there, and it's great to see them rebounding so well. That said, the problem was the hikers. You NEVER run from a bear, it triggers the attack. It's easier said than done I'm sure, but there is a reason they tell you that! Destroying the bear would be wrong. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a tree hugging freak, I run dogs on hogs, hunt deer and turkey every year, but you have to remember, were not always at the top of the food chain! But the re-introduction of wolves, NOW THAT WAS A MISTAKE!!! Blast them at every chance you have, hopefully WY is allowed to start hunting them sometime soon. THAT is one animal that needs to be made extinct world wide, and especially in sheep country………….

  • WM C ZIMMERMAN

    BEARS CAN RUN 100 YARDS IN 3 SECONDS OR LESS. MORAL OF STORY BACK SLOWLY . SHOOT ASK QUESTIONS LATER. NEVER ASSUME WILD LIFE IS FRIENDLY.

    • BUD BENNACK

      WOW! A 68 MPH BEAR!! (IOO YDS IN 3 SEC.)

  • Tim Petelin

    Tough situation. Hikers should not be unarmed and should have known better. Wwas said about the wolves is true. The bears are having to travel farther and kill more since the introduction of the wolves has gone out of sight. The sow was protecting her young as nature warrants. Hikers should wake up. Bears are fierce predators. Forget about Yogi and Booboo.

  • Kalena

    It's very sad that Brian and Marylin Matayoshi was in the wrong place and time when mother bear was protecting her cubs. Marylin will never get over this sad event in her life. In 1967 when we visited Yellowstone we had a brief incontinent with a hungry grizzle bear attacking on our ice chest with food in it. I was really afraid for my life with that grizzler bear so close to us. We grab out 30-06 rifles when the grizzler tore open the ice chest and ate everything in the ice and moved on to the next ice chest. That grizzler was only15 feet away from my face and that is as close to a grizzler bear I would ever want be. That's one story I tell my grandkids and lived thru it. I do carry a 357 mag now when I go any where in the woods. Better safe than sorry as they say!