List of deaths in Yellowstone National Park

Military deaths

The U.S. Army administered Yellowstone from 1886 to 1917 from the park headquarters at Fort Yellowstone. During the Army’s tenure, at least 14 soldiers died in the park.[1]

Date Victim Circumstances
1891 Private James Pruitt Died from a horse kick
1893 Private Andrew Preiber Froze to death while on winter patrol
1893 Private Ellis Lingard Horse wreck
1894 Lieutenant Lunsford Daniel Runaway horse
1897 Private John W.H. Davis Froze to death on winter patrol
1898 Private Harry P. Donaldson Drowning
1904 Private Richard R. Hurley Froze to death on winter patrol
1906 Private Harry B. Allen Drowning
1908 Private Presley H. Vance Froze to death on winter patrol
1910 Private Frank F. Monaghan Drowning
1912 Private Frank Cunningham Self-defense shooting
1916 Lieutenant Joseph McDonald Avalanche
1918 Sargent Arthur S. Brewer Drowning
1918 Private Victor Manterfield Drowning

Bear attacks

Date Victim Circumstances
September 8, 1916 Frank Welch Killed by a bear at a camp near Sylvan Pass. He was carrying hay and oats when attacked; other campers later killed the bear with a dynamite trap.[2][3]
August 23, 1942 Martha Hansen Mauled to death by a bear in the Old Faithful area. Hansen had left her cabin to go to an outdoor restroom at night, surprised a bear around a corner, and was attacked. Hansen succumbed to her injuries four days later in a hospital.[4][5]
June 24-25, 1972 Harry Eugene Walker Mauled and partially consumed by a grizzly bear after he camped illegally in the backcountry.[6] Walker's death led to a high-profile wrongful death trial.[7]
July, 30, 1984 Brigitta Fredenhagen Dragged from her tent during the night and killed at a backcountry campsite at the southern end of White Lake.[8][9] Park investigations concluded the grizzly was likely food-conditioned.[10]
October 5, 1986 William Tesinsky Mauled to death and partly eaten by a grizzly bear in the Otter Creek area of Hayden Valley.[11] Tesinsky had approached the bear too closely while trying to take photos.[12] The bear was later shot and killed by park rangers.[13]
July 6, 2011 Brian Matayoshi Attacked and killed by a female grizzly with cubs on the Wapiti Lake Trail near Canyon Village.[14][15]
August 24, 2011 John Wallace Body was found along the Mary Mountain Trail after hiking alone.[16][17] An autopsy confirmed he died from a bear attack.[18]
August 7, 2015 Lance Crosby Killed by a grizzly bear in an off-trail area near Elephant Back Loop Trail[19][20][21]

Bison incidents

Date Victim Circumstances
March 22, 1902 Dick Rock Poacher gored near Henry's Lake 29 times by captive bison.[22][23]

Thermal pool accidents

Date Victim Circumstances
July 1890 James Joseph Stumbo Fell into a hot spring during a family excursion and died.[24]
September 1905 Fannie Weeks Fell into a hot spring near Old Faithful and died a month later from her injuries.[23][25]
July 8, 1919 Jame Baxter Hughes 4-year-old boy from Gueydon, Louisiana fell into hot spring at West Thumb Geyser Basin.[25]
August 15, 1927 Rollo Fallagher Fell into a hot spring near Firehole Lake and sustained injuries, was recommended to seek medical care near by but chose to drive to Salt Lake City where he later died.[25]
July 5, 1929 Georges Landoy Visiting from Belgium when he fell into a hot spring near Grand Geyser.[25]
July 20, 1981 David Allen Kirwan Died after diving head-first into Celestine Pool which has an average temperature of 183.4 °F (84.1 °C) to rescue his friend's dog that had fallen into the pool.[25][26]
June 7, 2016 Colin Scott Died after slipping into a thermal pool while exploring a prohibited area of the park with his sister. Reports indicate that they intended to partake in "hot potting," the prohibited activity of bathing in Yellowstone's thermal pools.[27]
July 31, 2022 Il Hun Ro 70-year-old man died after entering Abyss Pool (West Thumb Geyser Basin); part of his foot in a shoe was found floating on August 2022.[28][29]

Falls from heights

Date Victim Circumstances
June 17, 2006 Deborah Chamberlin Stepped over a retaining wall to take a photograph and fell 500 ft to her death.[30][31]
September 28, 2007 Charlotte Harrison Slipped from the Calcite Springs overlook and fell 400–500 ft into the canyon while taking photos.[32]
August 26, 2016 Estefania Liset Mosquera Alcivar Park concessions employee fell ~400 ft from Grandview Point into the canyon while socializing with co-workers.[33][34]
June 7-8, 2017 Jeff Murphy Fell ~500 ft from Turkey Pen Peak (near Rescue Creek Trail) while hiking alone searching for the Forrest Fenn treasure.[35][36][37]

Hiking accidents

Date Victim Circumstances
July 16, 2013 Joseph Austin Parker 23-year-old from Valdosta, Georgia was hiking alone on Electric Peak.[38]
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References

  1. ^ Whittlesey, Lee (1995). "Chronology". Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park. Roberts Rinehart Publishers. pp. 199–200. ISBN 978-1-57098-021-3.
  2. ^ Grose, Jessica (April 2, 2012). "Grizzly Bear Attacks: How wildlife investigators found a killer grizzly in Yellowstone". Slate. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  3. ^ Whittlesey, Lee (1995). Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park. Roberts Rinehart Publishers. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-57098-021-3.
  4. ^ Biel, Alice Wondrak (2006). Do (not) feed the bears: the fitful history of wildlife and tourists in Yellowstone. University of Kansas Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-7006-1432-5.
  5. ^ "Yellowstone Bear Mauls a Woman". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 24, 1942. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  6. ^ Burkhalter, Eddie (2016-10-09). "Man vs. nature: More than 40 years after a Calhoun County man was killed by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone, a new book helps his family find closure". The Anniston Star. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  7. ^ Smith, Jordan Fisher (2016). Engineering Eden: the true story of a violent death, a trial, and the fight over controlling nature (1st ed.). New York: Crown. ISBN 978-0-307-45426-3.
  8. ^ Herrero, Stephen (2002). Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance. Globe Pequo. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-1-58574-557-9.
  9. ^ "Grizzly killed hiker, board says". United Press International. The Deseret News. August 27, 1984. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  10. ^ Gunther, Kerry (2022). "Bear-caused human fatalities in Yellowstone National Park: characteristics and trends". Human–Wildlife Interactions. 16 (3): 415–432.
  11. ^ "The National Park Service said a board of inquiry... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  12. ^ Mattson, David (2010-07-31). "Attack stumps wildlife experts". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  13. ^ Grose, Jessica (2015-08-09). "How Wildlife Investigators Found a Killer Grizzly in Yellowstone". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  14. ^ Memmott, Mark (2011-07-07). "Man Killed By Yellowstone Grizzly Reportedly Told Wife To Run". NPR. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  15. ^ Streater, Scott. "Report Details Harrowing Grizzly Attack on Yellowstone NP Trail". archive.nytimes.com. Greenwire. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  16. ^ "Grizzly bear kills man in Yellowstone national park". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2011-08-30. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  17. ^ "Bear Behind Yellowstone Death". Outside Online. 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  18. ^ "'Grizzly Expert' Mauled To Death By Bear". HuffPost. Reuters. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  19. ^ Hetter, Katia (2015-08-13). "Yellowstone grizzly put down after hiker killed". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  20. ^ Wilkinson, Todd. "What Do You Do With a Bear That Kills a Person?". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  21. ^ "63-Year-Old Montana Man ID'd as Experienced Hiker Mauled by Grizzly Bear". ABC News. August 10, 2015. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  22. ^ Chan, Amy (2017-06-20). "'Rocky Mountain Dick' Kept Big-Game Animals on His Idaho Territory Ranch". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  23. ^ a b "WOMAN KILLED IN GEYSER.; Treasury Department Clerk Dies of Injuries in Yellowstone Park". The New York Times. 1905-09-07. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  24. ^ Ferry, David (2016-06-16). "A Brief History of Deaths in Yellowstone's Hot Springs". Outside Online. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  25. ^ a b c d e Whittlesey, Lee (1995). Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park. Lanham, Massachusetts, United States of America: Robert Rinehart Publishers.
  26. ^ Arrandale, Tom (2022-10-07). "Has Anyone Died from Falling in a Geyser?". Yellowstone National Park. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  27. ^ Felton, Ryan (2016-11-17). "Man's body 'dissolved' by Yellowstone hot spring after seeking place to swim". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  28. ^ "Foot found floating in Yellowstone hot spring belonged to 70-year-old L.A. man". Los Angeles Times. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Incident at Abyss Pool, West Thumb Geyser Basin" (Press release). National Park Service. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  30. ^ "Tourist Dies From Fall At Yellowstone". CBS News. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Woman Falls to Her Death in Yellowstone". National Parks Traveler. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Fall Into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Kills California Woman". National Parks Traveler. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Park Worker's Fatal Fall into Yellowstone's Grand Canyon". YellowstonePark.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  34. ^ Preuss, Andreas (2016-08-27). "Yellowstone National Park worker falls to death". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  35. ^ "Missing Hiker Found Dead Near Yellowstone's Turkey Pen Peak". Yellowstone Insider. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Illinois man's body found in Yellowstone National Park after 2 day search". East Idaho News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  37. ^ "Search for Buried Treasure Linked to Illinois Man's Death at Yellowstone". NPR. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  38. ^ Ricketts, Macy (2013-08-18). "Fatal Attraction: Georgia man's love of Montana ends in tragedy". Valdosta Daily Times. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
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