Hiker Injured in Bear Attack in Alaska

A woman was attacked by a brown bear while hiking with a friend and three dogs near a state park in Alaska on Saturday, as reported by authorities.

According to the Anchorage Police Department, she sustained injuries that, thankfully, are not life-threatening and she is expected to make a full recovery.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game stated that the incident took place in the late afternoon close to the Bear Valley residential area, which borders Chugach State Park, located south of Anchorage.

Officials noted that the hikers were traversing an unmarked, user-created trail that wound steeply up a hillside. The area was thickly vegetated, which likely affected visibility and heightened the chance of an unexpected encounter with wildlife.

“The bear appeared from the dense vegetation, made brief contact with one of the hikers, and then left,” explained the ADF&G.

During the encounter, one of the woman’s dogs got loose. Fortunately, another group of hikers found the dog unharmed and safely returned it home, as stated by authorities.

Wildlife officials mentioned that bears tend to hide their food sources during this season, noting reports of at least one moose being killed in the vicinity recently.

It’s possible that strong winds and poor weather conditions startled the bear leading it to intersect with the group of hikers, even though they were making noise.

“The clutter of tall grass and leafless shrubs around Anchorage right now increases the likelihood of unexpected wildlife encounters,” the ADF&G added.

First responders from several agencies were dispatched to the scene, including the Anchorage Fire Department and the Alaska Department of Wildlife. Upon arriving, officers ascended the trail to locate the injured woman.

Firefighters transported her down the hill to a nearby hospital. During the rescue operation, officers flew a drone and observed the brown bear still in the area, which allowed rescuers to treat and evacuate the injured hiker safely.