ANCHORAGE, Alaska — In a dramatic encounter in the rugged terrain of Anchorage, two U.S. Army soldiers suffered injuries after a run-in with a brown bear during a training exercise, the military reported on Friday.
The confrontation occurred on Thursday within the Arctic Valley, an area used for training by the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The soldiers were engaged in a “land navigation training event” when the incident transpired.
As of Friday, both soldiers were under medical care, according to statements provided to the Anchorage Daily News. Attempts to reach base representatives for further details were unsuccessful, as no responses were received by The Associated Press by the end of the day.
The military has withheld specific information regarding the soldiers’ medical conditions, prioritizing the notification of their families first.
In an attempt to defend themselves, the soldiers reportedly deployed pepper spray against the bear. However, the situation remains under investigation, and additional information has yet to be revealed.
“The safety and well-being of our personnel is our highest priority,” Lt. Col. Jo Nederhoed, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division, emphasized in an email to the Anchorage Daily News.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is investigating what it says appears to have been “a defensive attack” by a bear that had recently emerged from a den. The area near where the incident occurred has been closed to recreational activity by base officials, the department said.
Samples were collected by investigators with the aim of positively identifying the species and gender of bear involved, the department said.
The base encompasses 100 square miles (259 square kilometers) within the Municipality of Anchorage, where up to 350 black bears and 75 brown bears roam freely.
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