Incident on a popular Chugach trail raises safety concerns
A brown bear attacked a woman running along the Wolverine Bowl trail in Chugach State Park Thursday morning, prompting a wildlife response and warnings for trail users, officials said Friday.
The attack happened roughly 2 miles in from the Prospect Heights trailhead, according to the Anchorage Fire Department. Firefighters were alerted to the incident at about 9:30 a.m., and personnel met the runner when she returned to the trailhead.
- Location: Wolverine Bowl trail, accessed from Prospect Heights trailhead, Chugach State Park
- Time notified: About 9:30 a.m. Thursday
- Victim: A woman running alone
- Response: Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologists
Officials said the runner was carrying bear spray and used it during the encounter. She was able to return to the trailhead on her own, where firefighters offered transport to a hospital; she declined that offer and later went to a hospital in a privately owned vehicle, Anchorage Fire Department spokesperson Megan Peters said.
"The runner was able to make it back to the trailhead herself,"
Wildlife biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game interviewed the runner and traveled to the site of the attack to search for the bear and collect biological samples, the agency said. No bear was located at the scene during the investigators' search.
Warnings, reporting and what officials are doing next
Agency officials posted warning signs at the Prospect Heights trailhead advising visitors of the recent mauling. Fish and Game urged people to report any sightings of brown bears in Anchorage, or wildlife displaying aggressive or unusual behavior, using the department’s online reporting tool.
Fish and Game did not release the runner’s name or specific details about the severity of her injuries. Officials also did not report finding cubs or other bears in the area when investigators canvassed the site.
| Item | Details from officials |
|---|---|
| How the incident started | Runner encountered a brown bear about 2 miles in on the Wolverine Bowl trail |
| Immediate defensive action | Runner deployed bear spray |
| Medical follow-up | Declined fire department transport; later went to hospital privately |
Trail users in Anchorage have long contended with seasonal wildlife activity in the Chugach foothills, where hikers, runners and cyclists share narrow, often wooded routes with black and brown bears, moose and other animals. Encounters can escalate quickly when animals are surprised, protecting cubs, or feeding.
Public-safety and wildlife managers typically recommend several precautions for people traveling in bear country, including carrying and knowing how to use bear spray, making noise to avoid surprising animals, traveling in groups when possible, keeping pets leashed, and properly storing food and scented items.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said it will continue to investigate, and it asked the public to report sightings immediately to help wildlife managers track the animal and assess any ongoing risk to park visitors or nearby neighborhoods.
This remains a developing story. Officials have posted warnings at the Prospect Heights trailhead and investigators are seeking any additional information from trail users who may have been in the area Thursday morning.
Anchorage residents and visitors planning to use Chugach State Park trails should be prepared for encounters and review current guidance from Fish and Game and the Anchorage Fire Department before entering the backcountry.
