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A hiker was injured by a single, adult-sized bear on Monday, May
23 in an incident which took place in the early afternoon on the
west side of the Savage River in an off-trail area above the footbridge
that crosses the river approximately 1½ miles downstream of the
park road. Joanne Saunders, 52, of Poquoson, Virginia and her husband
James, 54, had hiked part-way up the slope along a ridge and were
heading back down to the trail. They took a different route going
back and found themselves in heavy brush with poor visibility. They
had climbed up on an 8-9 foot rock outcropping to survey the area
for a better route when they heard the bear as it ran downhill toward
them through the 6 foot high vegetation. Snorting as it ran past
them, the bear stopped about 20-30 feet below them, turned and charged.
When the bear got to the rock, it leapt up and grabbed Mrs. Saunders
by the right ankle with its mouth and pulled her down onto the ground.
She immediately assumed a fetal position, and Mr. Saunders shouted
and jumped to the ground to assist his wife. The bear looked up
and moved quickly away from the area, disappearing into the brush.
The entire attack took place within just a few seconds. The couple
slowly navigated their way up to the ridge and then down to the
Savage River Check Station, where they reported the incident to
the rangers at approximately 3:30 p.m. They were assessed and treated
on scene and taken by ambulance to Healy. Mrs. Saunders sustained
injuries to her right ankle, bruising on her left side and a broken
nose due to the fall from the rock. She was taken to Fairbanks for
additional treatment, but was released that night. Mr. Saunders
was treated for a sprain to his left ankle that he sustained from
the jump off the rock. Two rangers and a wildlife technician hiked
into the area that evening to attempt to locate the bear. They did
encounter two bears, but neither behaved in an unusual or aggressive
manner. A sow grizzly with two yearling cubs has been frequenting
the area, but she was not seen. Park managers have temporarily closed
the Savage River drainage downstream of the park road to all access.
The vehicle parking areas on both sides of the river are closed
to use, and hiking trails into the area have been signed with warning
notices to prevent entry. The area will remain closed for the next
several days as rangers and wildlife management staff monitor the
area. Park biologists will determine if the use of aversive conditioning
methods, as outlined in the park’s Bear Management Plan, are warranted.
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Author:Jane
Ahern
www.nps.gov/akso
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