Woman injured in bear attack while hiking with friend, 3 dogs in Alaska

A woman hiking in Alaska suffered injuries after an encounter with a brown bear, local authorities reported. The incident took place on July 18 around 5:30 p.m. local time on a trail in the Bear Valley area.

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Upon arrival, APD officers climbed the trail where they located an adult female who sustained non-life-threatening injuries after encountering a brown bear while hiking with another person.

Officers from the Anchorage Police Department, along with Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, responded to the scene. They located an adult female hiker who had sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The hiker was with another individual and three dogs when the encounter occurred.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the hikers encountered the bear on a narrow, switch-backed trail with dense vegetation and low visibility. The bear emerged from the brush, made brief contact with one of the hikers, and then departed the area. High winds and inclement weather may have contributed to the bear being surprised by the hikers and their dogs.

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The hikers encountered the bear on a narrow, switch-backed trail uphill from the Bear Valley neighborhood, in an area with heavy vegetation and low visibility. The bear came out of the dense alders, made brief contact with one of the hikers, and left the scene.

Initial reports suggested a dog was killed, but these were later proven untrue. Another group of hikers found the uninjured dog and brought it back to safety. During the rescue of the injured hiker, police used a drone to monitor the brown bear's activity in the vicinity, ensuring the safety of first responders and the victim. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recommends safety measures for hiking in bear country, including traveling in groups, making noise, carrying deterrents, controlling pets, and having communication devices.

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Officers were able to locate a brown bear nearby and monitor the activity to ensure that first responders and the injured hiker remained safe during the rescue.