A fisherman and a female grizzly bear shared a river in Alaska last week, as the large animal carelessly dunks her head while searching for salmon.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A runner was injured during an encounter with a bear while jogging alone on a trail in Alaska.
An adult woman was attacked by a brown bear near the Prospect Heights trailhead in Anchorage on Aug. 13.
VIDEO: FISHERMAN AND GRIZZLY BEAR SHARE ALASKAN RIVER WHILE HUNTING FOR SALMON
File Video: A brown bear prepares to eat a sockeye salmon while fishing on August 12, 2023 at Brooks Falls, Alaska.
(John Moore/Getty Images / Getty Images)
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife, the victim was trail running alone when she ran into a brown bear on the Wolverine Bowl trail.
The runner deployed bear spray during the encounter before making her way back to the trailhead. She was later transported to a hospital for treatment, officials said.
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After the encounter, biologists interviewed the victim and later returned to the trail in search of a bear, other signs of bear activity and collected samples, although they didn’t locate any bears.
A coastal trail in Anchorage, Alaska.
(Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife urges anyone that sees a brown bear in the Anchorage area, or any wild animal behaving aggressively or unusually, to report it immediately using the online reporting tool found here.
Officials posted signage of the activity near the site of the incident, with the officials warning hikers should avoid closed trails for their own safety.
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“Thick, dense summer foliage can block sightlines, making surprise encounters more likely. Choose hiking routes with good visibility and away from known attractants, like salmon-bearing streams,” Alaska Fish and Wildlife said in a press release.
A grizzly bear enjoys a salmon he caught on Skilak Lake in Alaska. (Brent Frazee/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
If you surprise a bear — especially a female with cubs or a bear guarding a food cache — it may perceive you as a threat and react defensively.
An agitated bear may huff, stomp, make popping sounds with its teeth, salivate, pin its ears back against its head or charge.
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Alaska Fish and Wildlife also offers the following safety tips:
- Stay calm during a bear encounter. Ready your deterrent. Stand your ground, group up with others and alert the bear by talking calmly. Don’t run.
- If the bear is stationary, move away slowly while keeping your eyes on the bear.
- 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.
