A brown bear attacked two US Army soldiers Thursday during a land navigation training event in the Arctic Valley training area near Anchorage, Alaska, leaving both injured and requiring medical care.
The soldiers, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, were participating in routine training when the encounter occurred. Both deployed pepper spray in response to what investigators are calling a defensive attack by a bear that had recently emerged from hibernation.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is leading the investigation into the incident. Investigators collected samples from the scene to confirm the species and sex of the animal involved. The military has closed the surrounding area to recreational activity pending the outcome of the probe.
The specific condition and extent of the soldiers' injuries have not been disclosed while next of kin are notified. A spokesperson for the Army's 11th Airborne Division emphasized the incident in a statement to local media.
Arctic Valley sits within the sprawling 100-square-mile training complex that serves the joint base. The region sustains a significant wildlife population, with roughly 350 black bears and 75 brown bears living freely across the installation's grounds within the Anchorage municipality.
Encounters between military personnel and bears are not uncommon at installations in Alaska, where training operations regularly send soldiers into backcountry terrain. Brown bears, particularly those newly emerged from dens, are known to be aggressive when surprised or protecting food sources.
The investigation remains active, with few additional details released as personnel continue gathering evidence and statements related to the attack.
Author James Rodriguez: "Two soldiers mauled during a routine training exercise highlights the real hazards of operating in Alaska's backcountry, even on military controlled land."
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