This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Utah man likely killed by a bear in Wyoming was a seasonal employee working a new site alone for an Idaho business.
While full details of Adam Thomas Stewart's death have still not been revealed, his boss said the 31-year-old from Virgin, Utah, was an experienced backcountry visitor.
"Adam was a very bright individual and talented in many ways," said Steve Rust, owner of Boise-based Nature's Capital. Rust reported Stewart missing Sept. 7.
"We very saddened by this event," he said. "Adam was very physically fit, had a tremendous amount of experience and training to work in the backcountry. It's a horrible loss."
Rust said Stewart had only started working for the company this summer and it was the first trip Nature's Capital had made to the area around Brooks Lake to do work for the U.S. Forest Service.
After an intensive search, Stewart's body was found Sept. 12 about 3 miles north of a his campsite. His family was notified the next day.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials were called in to investigate because multiple bear tracks were found at the scene. Wildlife officials said Stewart was found near two deer carcasses that bears had been eating.
In a preliminary report, the Fremont County coroner determined Stewart's death was caused by "blunt force trauma from a probable bear bite." Some media reported the fatal bite was on Stewart's head.
Bears, both grizzlies and black bears, frequent the area. Officials have not concluded whether Stewart was killed by a grizzly or a black bear. DNA tests will be performed on hairs found at the scene.
Fremont County Undersheriff Ryan Lee told the Salt Lake Tribune Tuesday investigators had not had a chance to go through Stewart's belongings and did not know if he was carrying bear spray or a gun when he was discovered.
Lee would not say if Stewart's remains were intact or if bears had started to eat his body.
Rush said Nature's Capital staffers talk about obvious safety hazards during their time in the mountains and "bear encounters were part of" those discussions.
He said it was not the company's usual practice for an employee to be alone in the field.
"That is not common," Rust told the Tribune. "There are specific reasons why it happened this time that I won't go into. It is basically logistics."
Lee said Stewart's remains will stay in Wyoming until the investigation is complete.
"It's untamed America—rough and rugged wilderness, some of the most rugged and out-of-the-way country in the Lower 48," he said. "It is not a playground."
Twitter: @BrettPrettyman