Wilderness guide dies days after grizzly bear attack near Yellowstone

A Montana wilderness guide has died days after being attacked by a grizzly bear near Yellowstone National Park, officials said.

Carl Mock, 40, suffered a massive stroke and died Saturday, two days after a bear weighing at least 420 pounds mauled him while he was fishing near Baker’s Hole campground, according to an online fundraiser.

“This comes as a terrible shock and is heartbreaking to everyone, since both the surgeries went so well,” organizer Keith Johnson wrote.

Mock, who worked as a wilderness guide for Backcountry Adventures and lived in West Yellowstone, had severe injuries in Thursday’s attack and was taken to a hospital in Idaho Falls, where he was set to have several surgeries and faced a “very long” road to recovery, Johnson wrote.

Mock, who was alone at the time, had bear spray with him, but it’s unclear whether he was able to deploy it during the attack, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department.

The male bear believed to have mauled Mock was shot and killed by a group of game wardens and ursine specialists on Friday, according to department officials.

The older grizzly, which charged at the group, was killed about 50 yards away from a moose carcass — indicating the bear was likely defending its food source while it attacked Mock, officials said.

Mock suffered significant wounds to his face and scalp during the mauling. He was remembered by friends and family as a passionate lover of all things outdoors, including hiking and fishing.

“He is a hard-working guy with an infectious smile,” Johnson wrote. “He is a loyal friend that would help any of us however he could.”

One former client of Mock’s said he accompanied Mock on two chartered photography tours and noted his detailed backcountry knowledge combined with a “great personality” and strong work ethic made him a “great wildlife” photography guide.

“Rest in Peace my friend,” Marshall Mahler wrote.

With Post wires

This post first appeared on Nypost.com

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