A hiker is recovering from her injuries after a bear mauled her on a trail outside of Anchorage, Alaska. The Anchorage Fire Department posted photos and an update on Facebook, saying the woman was hiking alone in the Stuckagain Heights area. Anchorage Fire Department spokesperson Megan Peters told local KTUU News that she believed the animal was a brown bear.
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KTUU further reports that rescue crews found the injured hiker with the help of drones and an Alaska Department of Public Safety helicopter unit. Crews airlifted the victim to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The bear fled after the incident.
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“Just before 5:30 PM, #YourAnchorageFireFighters cleared the staging area up in the Stuckagain Heights area after the extraction of a bear mauling victim,” the fire department wrote in its Facebook post. “Three hours earlier, a 9-1-1 call came into #AFDDispatch from a hiker reporting they were mauled by a bear and needed help as soon as possible. The hiker reported they could not get out on their own due to injuries sustained in the mauling.”
The Anchorage Fire Department encourages solo hikers to share their plans with friends or family members before enjoying the outdoors. “Information regarding your planned route can be invaluable as we try to locate you in case of an emergency,” the department wrote. “To be extra prepared, leave a copy of your trip plan underneath your windshield wiper!”
When hiking in bear country, always carry a bear deterrent, such as a bear horn or bear spray (or both). When used properly, bear spray increases your chance of surviving an encounter with an aggressive bear.
See the Anchorage Fire Department’s post about the bear attack on a hiker in Alaska here:
Header stock image by Lukas Matej / 500px/Getty Images
Best Bear (and Mountain Lion) Sprays
- SABRE Frontiersman MAX Bear and Mountain Lion Attack Deterrent
- Counter Assault Bear Deterrant Spray
- UDAP Pepper Power Bear Spray
- Mace Brand Bear Spray
- UDAP Griz Guard Bear Pepper Spray
Learn more about bear sprays here.
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