Overview
- A brown bear emerged from dense vegetation on a narrow, unofficial switchback trail and made brief contact with a woman hiking with a companion and three dogs, leaving her with non-life-threatening injuries.
- First responders from the Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Department of Fish and Game carried the injured woman down the trail and transported her to a local hospital for treatment.
- Anchorage police used a drone to locate and monitor the bear during the rescue, and officers continued observing the animal to ensure the scene stayed safe while the hiker was evacuated.
- Initial reports that a dog was killed were corrected after another hiking group found the separated dog alive and returned it, and ADF&G said high winds and heavy vegetation probably increased the chance of a surprise encounter.
- ADF&G has begun placing signs and flagging at trailheads and is urging hikers to travel in groups, make noise, control pets and carry deterrents and communications because bears are common in Bear Valley and may defend cached food this time of year.