A hiker was attacked by a bear, possibly a grizzly, along the Beaver Ponds Trail in Yellowstone National Park/NPS file

A hiker in Yellowstone National Park was injured by a bear, possibly a grizzly, Friday morning while hiking the Beaver Ponds Trail at Mammoth Hot Springs in the park.

The 39-year-old man was about 1.5 miles from the trailhead when he saw two bears, which he thought were grizzlies.

"One bear made contact with the hiker and he sustained significant injuries to his lower extremities, but was able to hike out on his own," a park release said.

The man was able to hike out on his own, and was transported to the Livingston (Montana) Hospital.

The Beaver Ponds Trail rambles for five miles in a loop, gaining more than 350 feet in elevation as it passes through sagebrush meadows and stands of trees. The beaver ponds are approximately half-way around the loop.

While the park website says hikers might see beavers or their sign, as well as muskrats and water birds, on the trail, also in the area are grizzlies, elk, mule deer, pronghorn and moose.

Yellowstone visitors are reminded to stay at least 100 yards from bears they spot, urged to carry bear spray and know how to use it, and always be alert for bears and other wildlife. "Watch for fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites (signs of digging, rolled rocks, torn up logs, ripped open ant hills)," the park release said.

Other precautions include hiking in groups, making noise, and avoid hiking at dawn, dusk, or night, when grizzlies are most active.

"This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2021. The last incident was in June 2020, when a grizzly bear knocked a woman to the ground and scratched her thigh.