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.
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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.
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.
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:
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