A hiker in Glacier national park is believed to have been killed in a confrontation with a bear, which is likely the first such fatality in the Montana park since 1998, authorities said.

The body of the male victim was found on Wednesday, and on Friday morning his identity and other details about him had not yet been publicly disclosed. The man had been reported missing and a search and rescue team was sent out to look for him this week and came upon his remains.

The nature of his wounds caused the park authorities to suspect he had been attacked by a bear, which are numerous in the vast mountain wilderness.

“His injuries are consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter,” the park said in a statement.

It added: “Wildlife and law enforcement personnel are currently assessing the area for bear activity and any ongoing public safety concerns. The investigation is ongoing.”

The body was found near the Mount Brown trail in the park “in a densely wooded area with downed timber”, and about 50ft off the trail, the park said.

The authorities believe it is the first fatal bear attack in Glacier national park since 1998. The last non-fatal attack by a bear in the park was last August.

About 1,000 bears live in the remote park and both black bears and grizzlies roam the location.

The hiker in question had been missing since Sunday, with the last known message coming from him that evening.

Two hikers were also injured during a bear encounter this week in Yellowstone national park in Wyoming. Those hikers, ages 15 and 28, were injured on Monday and airlifted to safety by helicopter.

Yellowstone park authorities said that “park staff believe a female grizzly bear with two or three cubs … were involved in the encounter”.