MOOSE, WY—Teton Interagency Dispatch received notification about 8 a.m. this morning, Friday, June 1, that several individuals were injured in a horse incident near the Colter Bay Corral operated by Grand Teton Lodge Company.
Park rangers and a park ambulance responded immediately, as well as Grand Teton Lodge Company employees. Additional park medics and ambulances were requested and responded to the site. Four individuals were injured and transported via park ambulances to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson. Injuries were not life threatening.
An initial investigation indicates that Grand Teton Lodge Company employees were preparing for the opening of their horseback trail rides this weekend when several horses were spooked. Three employees were on horseback and another employee was walking when they were injured. It is believed the horses were spooked by a female black bear with two cubs of the year.
Park rangers are conducting an accident investigation to determine how the incident happened. A temporary closure of the area has been implemented to allow the bears to naturally disperse from the area. It is unknown when horseback trail rides will begin in the Colter Bay area.
