UPDATE: Montana Suspends Search For Grizzly That Killed Woman, Bear Probably Left Area
Family members have identified Amie Adamson, 47, of Derby, Kansas, as the victim of a fatal bear mauling on Saturday.
"This is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to put on here. Yesterday morning we lost our beautiful, smart, talented daughter, Amie. Our first born," her mother, Janet Adamson, posted to Facebook.
Janet also appeared on Good Morning America on Monday, where she said her daughter, who was working in Yellowstone over the summer, was on a morning hike when she was attacked by the grizzly.
"Every morning, she'd get up early and she'd walk, hike or run. Running through that beauty of Yellowstone — she was almost in heaven. She died doing what she loved," Janet Adamson said.
In fact, Amie quit her teaching job eight years ago to go backpacking and then she wrote a book about it, titled "Walking Out: One Teacher's Reflections on Walking out of the Classroom to Walk America."
Authorities with the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks agency said they were notified at about 8 a.m. Saturday that a deceased hiker had been found on the Buttermilk Trail, which is about 8 miles west of West Yellowstone.
“FWP wardens and bear specialists, along with staff from other agencies, found that the woman had wounds consistent with a bear attack,” the agency said.
Bear tracks from an adult grizzly and at least one cub were spotted near the site of the attack.
Adamson was believed to be alone during the encounter, and no bear spray or firearms were found at the scene. The incident is still under joint investigation by FWP and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Jimmy Orr can be reached at jimmy@cowboystatedaily.com.
