Runner hospitalized after using bear spray to fend off brown bear in Alaska

A woman running alone on the Wolverine Bowl trail at Prospect Heights in Anchorage, Alaska, was attacked by a brown bear and hospitalized after using bear spray to defend herself. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported that the woman managed to escape the encounter and was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. The department did not specify the severity of her injuries but noted that warning signs have been posted at the Prospect Heights trailhead, advising hikers to stay off closed trails.

The attack occurred in an area with thick, dense summer foliage that can block sightlines, making surprise encounters more likely. The department emphasized that hikers should choose routes with good visibility and avoid known attractants like salmon-bearing streams. They also provided safety recommendations for hiking in bear country, including carrying bear spray or a firearm, staying in groups, making noise to avoid surprising bears, staying alert for signs of bears, not approaching bears, and keeping pets on a leash.

The department advised that if a bear is surprised, especially one with cubs or on a food cache, it may react defensively. They urged people to stay calm, stand their ground, ready their deterrent, stay in a group, and talk calmly. They warned never to run. If the bear is stationary, move away slowly while keeping eyes on the bear. If the bear charges, stop and stand your ground, let the bear know you are not a threat, and use the deterrent when the bear is within range.

This incident comes less than a month after another woman was mauled by a bear in Anchorage. In that earlier case, hikers were on an unofficial, user-made trail that climbed a steep hillside in a zigzag pattern. The area was heavily overgrown with dense vegetation, creating poor visibility and increasing the risk of surprising wildlife. The bear came out of dense alders, made brief contact with one of the hikers, and left the scene. The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to recover.