Summary (tl;dr)

Two soldiers from the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division were injured in a brown bear attack during a land navigation training exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.

Essential Background

Alaska's wilderness presents inherent dangers, with bear encounters being a recurring concern, particularly in the spring as bears emerge from hibernation. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), a significant military installation near Anchorage, is known to have a substantial population of both black and brown bears within its vast training areas. This isn't the first such incident; a fatal bear attack involving a soldier previously occurred at JBER in May 2022.

The Full Story

On Thursday, April 16, two soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division were attacked by a brown bear while conducting a land navigation training event in the Arctic Valley training area of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Both individuals sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care, though specific details regarding their conditions have not been fully released due to privacy concerns and pending next-of-kin notification. The soldiers effectively used bear spray during the encounter, which authorities suggest likely prevented more severe outcomes. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is investigating the incident and believes it was a defensive attack by a bear that had recently awakened from hibernation. Following the incident, the specific training area where the attack occurred has been closed to recreational activities.

Why It Matters

This incident underscores the inherent risks associated with military training in Alaska's wild environments and highlights the critical importance of proper bear safety protocols and the use of deterrents such as bear spray. It also serves as a timely reminder to all individuals in Alaska about the increased bear activity during the spring months and the need for heightened awareness when in wilderness areas.

Geographic Location

• Arctic Valley training area, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Anchorage Municipality, Alaska, United States (bear attack during land navigation training)