A mama grizzly bear brutally attacked a husband and wife hiking

through Yellowstone National Park, killing the 57-year-old man. The

gruesome death occurred Wednesday along the Wapiti Lake Trail
close to Canyon Village, which is at the center of the park.
It is the first human death by a grizzly bear inside Yellowstone
since 1986, but there have been a handful of attacks in recent years
in surrounding areas. The wife, who was also assaulted by the bear
but left uninjured, told park authorities the couple saw the bear
twice during their hike.
The first time it appeared to keep its distance, but the second
time it charged.The woman said she did not see the bear pounce on
her husband, according to Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash. When
they saw the bear come after them, he yelled for her to run.
The bear, however, caught up with her and knocked her to the
ground, Nash said. The grizzly then lifted her up by the backpack
she was wearing, then dropped her. The woman called 911 and cried
out for help. Others in the area came to her aid but the bear was
gone and remains on the loose. The couple has not been identified.
Officials said the bear was protecting its cubs from what it
believed to be a threat. Park officials worked to clear the area near
Wednesday's attack. A warning sign was posted on the trailhead,
Nash said.
"This is a wild and natural park," said Diane Shober, director of
the state Wyoming Travel and Tourism agency. "At the same time,
the likelihood of this happening again is small."
"It is in the back country of the park and we have access
challenges and limited communication," he said.

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Social function: To inform readers or listeners about events of the day which
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Generic structure of the news item:

1. News worthy event ( tells the event in a summary form)

A mama grizzly bear brutally attacked a husband and wife
hiking through Yellowstone National Park, killing the 57-yearold man.

2. Background events ( elaborate what happened, tell what

caused the incident)
The gruesome death occurred Wednesday along the Wapiti
Lake Trail close to Canyon Village, which is at the center of the
park.
It is the first human death by a grizzly bear inside
Yellowstone since 1986, but there have been a handful of attacks
in recent years in surrounding areas. The wife, who was also
assaulted by the bear but left uninjured, told park authorities the
couple saw the bear twice during their hike.
The first time it appeared to keep its distance, but the
second time it charged.The woman said she did not see the bear
pounce on her husband, according to Yellowstone spokesman Al
Nash. When they saw the bear come after them, he yelled for her
to run.
The bear, however, caught up with her and knocked her to
the ground, Nash said. The grizzly then lifted her up by the
backpack she was wearing, then dropped her. The woman called
911 and cried out for help. Others in the area came to her aid but
the bear was gone and remains on the loose. The couple has not
been identified.

3. Sources ( comments by participants, witnesses, authorities and

experts involved in the event)

Officials said the bear was protecting its cubs from what it
believed to be a threat. Park officials worked to clear the area near
Wednesday's attack. A warning sign was posted on the trailhead,
Nash said.
"This is a wild and natural park," said Diane Shober, director of
the state Wyoming Travel and Tourism agency. "At the same time,
the likelihood of this happening again is small."
"It is in the back country of the park and we have access
challenges and limited communication," he said.