Two young women were tragically killed in separate grizzly bear attacks in Glacier National Park, Montana, becoming the first fatalities due to bear encounters since the park's establishment. On that summer day, as park visitors enjoyed the scenic trails, 19-year-old Candice D. Lakin and her friend, 17-year-old Karen A. Sutton, faced an unforeseen threat in the form of the park's native wildlife. Candice was reportedly walking along a trail, a common activity for many tourists, when she was attacked by a grizzly bear. Shortly thereafter, Karen, while presumably following similar trails, met a similar fate. The unexpected nature of these incidents shocked the local community and visitors alike, sparking an urgent call for increased safety measures in dealing with wildlife interactions in national parks.

These tragic incidents underscored the more dangerous side of wilderness experiences and prompted officials to reevaluate park safety protocols surrounding bear encounters and public safety. The National Park Service's response included increased education on bear safety, advisories for hikers, and measures to manage bear populations and their interactions with human visitors. The events raised the profile of grizzly bear safety in national parks and marked a pivotal moment in addressing potential wildlife threats to public safety in areas where human and bear habitats overlap.

In years that followed, the Glacier National Park administration took initiatives to enhance visitor awareness programs, including bear spray demonstrations and regulations on food storage in campsites. Moreover, these incidents remain a point of reference when discussing bear safety in national parks across North America.