A grieving father has shared the heartbreaking final voicemail left by his “fearless” son before a “surprise encounter” with a bear that mauled him to death in Montana’s Glacier National Park.
On May 3, 33-year-old Anthony Edward Pollio arrived in Montana during a two-week road trip he was taking with a friend.
According to his father, Arthur Pollio, the two split up during the trip, with Anthony staying behind at Lake McDonald Lodge near Glacier National Park before heading out alone on a hike near the historic Mount Brown Fire Lookout. The trail is a steep, roughly 10-mile roundtrip route through rugged terrain inside the park.
Attacked by a bear
Days later, after Anthony failed to return, search teams discovered his body in a heavily wooded area about 50 feet from the trail. Officials said a can of bear spray was found near him.
Investigators believe he died following a bear encounter.
“The sequence of events leading to the bear encounter remains under investigation; however, evidence suggests that this was a surprise encounter,” the National Park Service (NPS) said in a written statement.
Officials added that the case appears to be the first fatal bear attack reported in Glacier National Park since 1998.
‘Fearless’ outdoorsman
Speaking to the Sun Sentinel, Arthur described his son as a “motorhead” who spent much of his life pursuing outdoor adventures.
“He was fearless,” he said, adding that hunting had been part of Anthony’s life for nearly 20 years.
Over the years, Anthony—who worked as a service advisor at a Sebring boating center—visited several national parks and landmarks across the United States, including Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton National Park, Starved Rock State Park in Illinois, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. His father also recalled trips where Anthony searched for dinosaur fossils in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
Outside of his passion for the outdoors, Anthony studied hospitality at the University of Central Florida and later lived in Sebring, where he served as a deacon at his church, his father said.
“His life experiences in 33 years—some people don’t get to do that until they’re 90 or their whole life,” he added.
‘I love you’
As investigators try to piece together Anthony’s final moments on the mountain, his family believes they may understand what happened during the fatal encounter.
“He saw a trail. It was only a few miles. It was daytime. His intention was to go up and see the sunset from the fire watch tower,” his brother Nicholas Pollio told WPLG.
Arthur added, “We think on the way down he encountered a grizzly bear.”
“I believe he was probably confronted by the bear, used the bear spray, and may have run from there,” Arthur said. “I think the bear may have chased him down and grabbed him by the shoulder.”
“The bear just attacked him and killed him,” his father added.
But the most heartbreaking detail Arthur shared was the final voicemail Anthony left during his hike—a message his father now holds onto after losing his son in the wilderness he loved.
“He says, ‘Dad, I’m hiking up a mountain. It’s wild out here,’” he told WVTJ. “He says, ‘I love you, dad,’ and that was the last message I received from him.”
Rare attack
Glacier National Park is home to both black bears and grizzly bears, though fatal attacks are rare.
The last reported attack occurred in August 2025, when a 34-year-old hiker was “swiped” by a “medium brown colored bear with two cubs.”
The NPS said the encounter was “a surprise to a sow with two cubs,” prompting the mother bear to act defensively.
“No action will be taken against the bear,” the NPS said in its Aug. 28, 2025 release, adding that the woman quickly recovered from her injuries.
Park officials have not confirmed the type of bear involved in Anthony’s case, and wildlife teams continue monitoring the area and assessing any public safety risks.
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