An Alaskan jogger was hospitalized following an alarming encounter with a bear in Anchorage this week.
While running alone on the Wolverine Bowl trail near Prospect Heights, the woman managed to escape a brown bear attack by deploying her bear spray, as reported by Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game.
She received medical attention at a nearby hospital.
Biologists who later surveyed the scene gathered samples, but no bears were located.
The department advises that any sightings of aggressive or peculiar behavior in wildlife should be promptly reported.
Warning signs have been posted at the Prospect Heights trailhead, the department said, adding that hikers should stay off closed trails.
“Thick, dense summer foliage can block sightlines, making surprise encounters more likely,” the department said. “Choose hiking routes with good visibility and away from known attractants, like salmon-bearing streams.”
When hiking in bear country, people should carry a deterrent such as bear spray or a firearm, stay in groups, make noise to avoid surprising a bear, stay alert for signs of bears, don’t approach bears and keep pets on a leash.
“If you surprise a bear, especially one with cubs or on a food cache, it may react in a threatened or defensive manner,” the department said. “The bear may be agitated and may huff, stomp, make a popping sound with its teeth, salivate or lay its ears back against its head and charge.”
They urged staying calm, standing your ground, readying deterrent, staying in a group and talking calmly. Never run.
“If the bear is stationary, move away slowly while keeping your eyes on the bear,” the department said.
“If the bear starts to move toward you or charges, stop and stand your ground. Let the bear know you are not a threat. Behaving calmly, moving slowly, and speaking in a low calm voice will help de-escalate the situation. If the bear continues to approach, use your deterrent when the bear is within range.”
The attack comes less than a month after another woman was mauled by a bear in Anchorage.
The July victim was walking with a friend and her three dogs in the Bear Valley residential neighborhood, adjacent to Chugach State Park in south Anchorage, when the bear approached.
Officials said the hikers were on an unofficial, user-made trail that climbs a steep hillside in a zigzag pattern. The area was heavily overgrown with dense vegetation, which created poor visibility and increased the risk of surprising wildlife, the department said.
“The bear came out of the dense alders, made brief contact with one of the hikers, and left the scene,” the department added.
The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to recover.