TRAIL TERROR

Woman Mauled by Bear in Terrifying Running Trail Attack

The runner fought back with bear spray.

A runner has been mauled by a bear on a trail in Alaska. The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Department said she was near the Prospect Heights trailhead, on the Wolverine Bowl Trail, in Anchorage, on Thursday when it attacked her. The lone runner fought back with bear spray, ultimately deterring the beast and escaping to the trailhead. Her name and the extent of her injuries have not been revealed by authorities. “Thick, dense summer foliage can block sightlines, making surprise encounters more likely,” the department said. “Choose hiking routes with good visibility and away from known attractants, like salmon-bearing streams.” After the attack, biologists spoke with the victim and visited the scene to find the bear, but none were located. Hundreds of thousands of bears are thought to live in Alaska. They also encouraged people to carry spray and practice using it “particularly removing the safety and being sure any additional shipping zip-ties are cut away.”