In July 1984, 25 year old Swiss tourist Brigitta Fredenhagen was exploring Yellowstone National Park when she decided to spend the night camping. After preparing dinner at her campsite, she carefully packed away the leftovers and hung the food in a tree, hoping to keep it away from wildlife.It was a precaution campers were often advised to take in bear country. Fredenhagen had no reason to believe that her campsite would become the scene of a fatal encounter.The following day, however, Fredenhagen failed to meet her brother and sister in law at their planned meeting spot. When she did not appear, they reported her missing, prompting park officials to begin searching the surrounding area.Two days later, rangers and investigators located her campsite. What they found immediately suggested that something violent had happened there.Her tent had a roughly 27 inch (66 cm) tear along the side. Nearby was an empty sleeping bag, while tracks and drag marks led away from the campsite.The search continued until investigators discovered Fredenhagen’s partially eaten remains. She had been killed during the encounter, and investigators determined that she had likely been dragged from her tent by the head or neck.The injuries indicated that she probably died from severe blood loss and shock. The circumstances pointed toward a grizzly bear as the attacker.Investigators believed the bear had initially been attracted by the food Fredenhagen had left hanging in the tree. Despite her attempt to keep the food elevated and away from wildlife, the bear was apparently capable of climbing the tree and reaching it.Once the bear discovered the food, it may have remained in the area and eventually found Fredenhagen’s tent. The attack demonstrated one of the risks of camping in territory inhabited by large predators: even precautions that seem sensible cannot completely eliminate the possibility of an encounter.Grizzly bears have an extraordinary sense of smell and can detect food from considerable distances. They are also powerful animals capable of climbing, digging, and moving objects with surprising ease.Not every grizzly attack happens because a bear is searching for food, though. A mother with cubs can become extremely defensive if she believes her young are threatened, turning an otherwise harmless encounter into a dangerous confrontation.For campers, the safest approach is to avoid attracting bears in the first place. Food, cooking equipment, garbage, and anything with a strong smell can draw wildlife toward a campsite, while proper food storage and keeping a clean camp can reduce the risk.In Fredenhagen’s case, she had taken steps to protect her food, but the bear was still able to reach it. What began as an ordinary camping trip ended with a predator following the scent of a meal directly to her campsite.The torn tent, abandoned sleeping bag, and drag marks were the final evidence of how quickly the wilderness around her had turned deadly.