News Release: 28 August 2008 (11 a.m.)

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is announcing the closure to visitor use of an area west of Anaktuvuk Pass after a woman was mauled by a bear at her campsite in the Okokmilaga River drainage.

The woman, whose injuries were reported by satellite phone as non life-threatening, was being evacuated this morning from the area by Coyote Air. At this time, it is expected that she will be taken to Coldfoot and then to Fairbanks for medical care. The NPS is unable to confirm her name or hometown; she was part of a group of seven people that were hiking in the area.

The closure was ordered this morning by park Superintendent Greg Dudgeon and applies to National Park Service lands (see map below).

It is unclear exactly when the incident occurred. Park rangers expect to interview members of the camping group after they reach Coldfoot and, when possible, talk to the injured woman to learn the details of the events. Park managers are assuming the bear was a grizzly bear, but that is also uncertain.

The Okokmilaga is very sparsely used and the closure is not expected to displace other visitors. Bear-human incidents are very rare in Gates of the Arctic. An area along the Alatna River was closed three years ago due to an aggressive black bear threatening people along the river.