ANCHORAGE (AP) — A jogger who came upon two bear cubs on a trail south of Anchorage said she was attacked by the mother bear Monday.
Alaska State Troopers say Susanne Knudsen, 59, of Indian was taken to an Anchorage hospital for treatment of injuries that were not considered life threatening.
Knudsen told troopers she was jogging on a trail in Chugach State Park when two brown bear cubs came out of the brush in front of her. She said she was hit from behind by the sow.
She used her cellphone to call for help Monday morning and a group of all-terrain vehicle riders happened upon her soon after.
Troopers said a group of riders, in the parking lot when the trooper arrived, lent the responding trooper an ATV and the riders helped bring Knudsen down the trail.
Jessy Coltrane, Anchorage area wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said vegetation along the trail is about 5 feet tall, and it appeared Knudsen had surprised the bears.
She said there are typically a lot of bears in that area, where two years ago, there was also a mauling on the trail.
Coltrane said troopers were wrong in identifying the trail as the Penguin Ridge Trail. She said Monday’s attack occurred on Bird Creek Trail.
