Two soldiers at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, were injured Friday after a brown bear attacked them during a training exercise.
“This incident involved two Soldiers participating in a land navigation training exercise,” said a press statement from the 11th Airborne Division to which the soldiers belonged. “Both individuals were injured and are receiving appropriate medical care. For privacy reasons, we are not releasing their names or circumstances until next of kin are notified.”
Officials said they could not provide further details on the extent of the soldiers’ injuries because the investigation is ongoing.
Two soldiers carried and used bear spray during a land navigation training exercise, according to a statement provided by CBS News.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game investigated and said it was likely a defensive attack by a bear that had recently emerged from its den after hibernating over the winter. Officials said they were unable to find any signs of the bear while searching the remote area.
“We wish these two individuals a full and speedy recovery, and our hearts go out to them during this time,” District Supervisor Cyndi Wardlow said in a statement. “ADF&G will continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the attacks and try to understand everything that happened to improve public safety around Alaska’s wildlife. “In this case, the use of bear spray in the field may have saved their lives.”
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is home to more than 40,000 people, more than half of whom are active duty military. In addition to the 11th Airborne Division, it is also home to the 673d Air Base Wing and the U.S. Army Alaska.
It’s not unheard of for soldiers to be attacked by bears at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In May 2022, a soldier identified as Staff Sgt. Seth Michael Plant, 30, was attacked and killed by a bear west of the Anchorage Regional Landfill, according to the base.
Bear attacks are fairly common in Alaska due to its large population. According to the Department of Fish and Game, there are approximately 100,000 black bears and 30,000 brown bears in Alaska.
A study by the Alaska Division of Epidemiology showed that between 2000 and 2017, 68 people were hospitalized in the state due to bear attacks. Studies show that the vast majority of attacks – similar to Thursday’s attack – are carried out by brown bears, about 96 per cent.
Research shows that eight separate attacks occurred during this period, resulting in 10 deaths.
