During a weekend hike near an Alaskan state park, a woman found herself face-to-face with a brown bear, resulting in an unexpected attack. She was accompanied by a friend and three dogs when the encounter unfolded, as reported by authorities.
The woman sustained injuries, though fortunately, they do not threaten her life. She is expected to make a full recovery, according to a statement from the Anchorage Police Department (APD) released on Sunday.
This unsettling incident occurred late in the afternoon in the Bear Valley neighborhood, which lies adjacent to the sprawling Chugach State Park located in southern Anchorage. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) provided additional details in a separate statement on Monday.
A brown bear journeying through the thick vegetation near Chugach State Park in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday. (Anchorage Police Department)
Officials noted that the hikers were traversing an unofficial trail, known for its steep, zigzagging climb up the hillside. The path was engulfed by dense foliage, significantly limiting visibility and heightening the probability of startling wildlife, ADF&G explained.
“The bear came out of the dense alders, made brief contact with one of the hikers, and left the scene,” ADF&G said.
One of the victim’s dogs was also off leash during the encounter and became separated from the group, according to the authorities. Another group of hikers later found the “uninjured dog and brought it back to safety, ultimately returning it to its home,” ADF&G said.
Aerial police footage captures a brown bear navigating thick alders near Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday following a sudden encounter with hikers. (Anchorage Police Department)
According to wildlife officials, bears are known to cache and defend food sources this time of year and noted reports that at least one moose had recently been killed nearby.
High winds and poor weather may have also led the bear to be surprised by the group of hikers.
“High winds and inclement weather conditions at the time of the encounter may have increased the chance that the bear was surprised by the hikers and their dogs, even if they were making noise,” ADF&G said.
“There are many private and public trails throughout Anchorage and the surrounding area that are overgrown at this time of year with tall grass and leafed out shrubs, which can greatly increase the chances of surprise encounters with wildlife.”
A thermal drone camera pinpoints a brown bear on a steep hillside near Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday. (Anchorage Police Department)
First responders from multiple agencies, including the Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and Alaska State Troopers, responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, police officers reportedly hiked up the trail to locate the injured adult.
Firefighters then carried the injured woman down the trail before transporting her to a local hospital.
During the rescue, APD officers deployed a drone and located a brown bear nearby. Officers continued monitoring the bear throughout the rescue, allowing first responders to safely treat and evacuate the injured hiker.