2 soldiers attacked by bear during training at Army base in Alaska
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Two soldiers from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, were injured in a brown bear attack during a land navigation training exercise and are receiving medical care, with details withheld pending next of kin notification.
- Both soldiers deployed bear spray during the incident, which is believed to have been a defensive attack by a bear recently emerged from hibernation, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game continues to investigate the circumstances of the attack to improve public safety around wildlife, noting that bear spray likely saved the soldiers' lives.
- Bear attacks are relatively common in Alaska due to its large bear population, with 68 hospitalizations and 10 fatalities from 2000 to 2017, most involving brown bears.
- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, home to over 40,000 people including active-duty military, has experienced previous bear attacks, including a fatal incident in May 2022.
