Despite their fearsome reputations, grizzly bear attacks are rare and infrequent. There hasn’t been one in Yellowstone National Park since 1986, until now. A couple hiking through the park surprised a female bear and her cubs. The grizzly attacked the male hiker and killed him.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A grizzly bear killed a man who was hiking with his wife in Yellowstone National Park’s backcountry after the couple apparently surprised the female bear and its cubs on Wednesday, park officials said.

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The incident occurred on the Wapiti Lake trail, which is located east of Grand Loop Road, south of Canyon Village. The couple had traveled about a mile and a half on the trail Wednesday morning when they spooked the sow and cubs. In an apparent attempt to defend a perceived threat to her cubs, the bear attacked and fatally wounded the man, according to a press release from the park.

They said the wife of the 57-year-old victim called 9-1-1 on her cellphone and other hikers in the area responded to her cries for help.

Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said the couple saw the bear twice on their hike. The first time, they continued hiking. The second time, the grizzly was running at them and the man told his wife to run.

Grizzly Bears are nothing to take lightly.