Man killed by bear on hike sent devastating final message to his dad just moments before vicious mauling

A man has been killed in what investigators believe was a surprise bear encounter at Glacier National Park in the US state of Montana.

Anthony Pollio's, 33, remains were located on May approximately 15 metres from a mountain trail in a heavily forested section of the park.

According to the National Park Service, his body displayed injuries consistent with a bear attack.

The discovery came after an extensive search operation was launched on May 4, following concerns raised by his family when contact was lost.

Mr Pollio, who resided in Sebring, Florida, had been enjoying a two-week road trip with a friend before venturing onto the Mountain Brown Trail alone.

The incident represents Montana's first bear-related fatality in nearly three decades, with the previous death occurring in 1998.

His father Arthur has spoken of the heartbreaking final communication he received from his son shortly before the fatal attack.

Anthony had left a voicemail while trekking through the wilderness, sounding breathless from his exertions on the trail.

"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."

The 33-year-old's brother Nicholas explained that Anthony had set out on what was intended to be a brief excursion of just a few miles.

His plan was simply to reach a fire watch tower and observe the sunset before returning, making the tragedy all the more devastating for the family.

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The National Park Service has confirmed that while the precise sequence of events remains under investigation, available evidence points to an unexpected confrontation between Anthony and the animal.

"Evidence suggests that this was a surprise encounter," the park service stated.

Authorities have temporarily shut the portion of trail where the incident took place as wildlife experts continue their assessment.

Park personnel are conducting field evaluations and monitoring animal behaviour to determine appropriate next steps.

Glacier National Park spans more than one million acres and is home to an estimated 1,000 black and grizzly bears, earning it the nickname "bear country."

The family believes Anthony encountered a grizzly, a species that can weigh up to 360 kilograms and reach heights of 2.5 metres.

Arthur described his son as "a fearless man" and "an educated man" who possessed considerable outdoor experience.

"He was a warrior. He was a gladiator. He was a Viking. He would never give up," the grieving father said.

The family believes Anthony deployed his bear spray during the confrontation, with authorities reportedly finding the area where his body lay heavily scented from the deterrent.

"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."

Prior to his death, Anthony had graduated from the University of Central Florida with a hospitality degree and worked as a service advisor at McKibben Powersports.

He also volunteered as a deacon at his local church and harboured a passion for animals, water sports and car racing.