A grieving father has recounted the final message he received from his son before the young man was fatally mauled by a bear during a solo hike in Montana.
Victim Identified as Anthony Pollio
Anthony Pollio, 33, a resident of Florida, was found dead on Wednesday at Glacier National Park after he went missing while on a two-week trip with a friend. According to a statement from the National Park Service, Pollio's body was discovered approximately 50 feet off a mountain trail, with injuries consistent with a bear encounter.
Pollio's father, Arthur Pollio, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that his son left a voicemail while on his final hike. An out-of-breath Pollio described his adventures on the Mountain Brown Trail and reminded his father that he loved him. His last known message was sent later that evening.
'He said, "Dad, I'm hiking up a mountain. It's wild out here,"' Arthur told NBC6. 'He says, "I love you, dad," and that was the last message I received from him.'
Search and Discovery
The National Park Service began search efforts on the afternoon of May 4, after Pollio's family had not heard from him. Search and rescue teams found some of his personal items in a densely wooded area. The park service stated that the sequence of events leading to the bear encounter remains under investigation, but evidence suggests it was a surprise encounter.
'The section of trail where the incident occurred has been temporarily closed while the investigation continues,' the statement added. 'Park staff are working to determine next steps based on field assessments and wildlife behavior monitoring.'
Father's Tribute
Arthur Pollio described his son as a smart man with extensive outdoor experience. 'Anthony was a fearless man,' he told WLPG Local 10. 'He's an educated man and the bear just attacked him and killed him.'
According to Pollio's brother, Nicholas, Anthony had intended only to watch the sunset on a short, relaxing hike. 'He saw a trail. It was only a few miles,' Nicholas said. 'It was daytime. His intention was to go up and see the sunset from the fire watch tower.' Instead, the family believes Pollio encountered a grizzly bear.
'I believe he was probably accosted by the bear. Used the bear spray. He might have ran from there,' Arthur said. 'I think the bear may have chased him down, grabbed him by the shoulder.'
Background and Remembrance
Pollio was a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he studied hospitality. At the time of his death, he lived in Sebring, Florida, where he volunteered as a deacon at his church and worked as a Service Advisor at McKibben Powersports. He was passionate about animals and enjoyed water sports, driving ATVs, and racing cars. Pollio traveled frequently and had visited many National Parks in his lifetime.
'His life experiences in 33 years, some people don't get to do until they're 90 or their whole life,' his father said. Pollio's death marks the first fatal bear attack in Montana since 1998. The Daily Mail contacted the National Park Service for further information.
