Bursting can of bear spray drove away grizzly in Teton attack; bear won't be killed: Reports

The grizzly bear that wounded a hiker in an encounter at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming last week will not be killed, according to reports.

Park officials believe that the bear may have been trying to protect its off spring at the time, the Associated Press reported. Mother bears are notably aggressive when it comes to their cubs.

The Signal Mountain Summit Road and Signal Mountain Trail at the national park were closed to all public entry after a "35-year-old male visitor from Massachusetts" was "seriously injured Sunday afternoon by a bear in the area of the Signal Mountain Summit Road," the National Park Service said in a news release Monday.

Teton emergency and rescue service responded to the incident, providing emergency medical care to the victim before airlifting him to a local hospital.

The victim is in "stable condition and is expected to fully recover," the park service said in a statement.

USA TODAY reached out to Grand Teton National Park for comment.

More:Man seriously injured in grizzly bear attack in closed area of Grand Teton National Park

Park officials closed the trail after the attack

Preliminary investigation determined that the incident was a "surprise encounter with two grizzly bears, with one of the bears contacting and injuring the visitor."

Grand Teton National Park is home to both black and grizzly bears. Grizzly bears are protected under both the State and Federal law.

Victim says he tried to play dead, report says

While on the trail, the unidentified hiker made an effort to "intentionally" make noise to alert any bears in the area, the Cowboy State Daily reported. He unexpectedly encountered a tiny cub, prompting him to reach for his bear repellant.

After the small bear ran away from him, a larger one charged in his direction before he got the opportunity to spray. While he was facedown on the ground, he tried to play dead. His hands were behind his neck but he was still holding the repellant.

“The bear bit him several times before ultimately puncturing the bear spray can,” the Park Service told the publication. “When the canister burst, the bears immediately departed the scene.”

The outlets reported that the hiker found an area with cell phone service and contacted responders to seek help for his injuries.