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A bear attacked and injured two soldiers who were participating in a training exercise in a remote location at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Thursday, military and state wildlife officials said Friday. <\/p>\n
The U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division soldiers were hurt in the encounter with a brown bear while participating a \u201cland navigation training event\u201d at the base\u2019s Arctic Valley training area, Lt. Col. Jo Nederhoed, a public affairs officer for the division, said in an email. <\/p>\n
The soldiers were \u201creceiving appropriate medical care\u201d as of late Friday morning, Nederhoed said. The military was withholding details about their condition pending notification of their next of kin, she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe safety and well-being of our personnel is our highest priority,\u201d Nederhoed said. \u201cThe incident is under investigation, and we are coordinating with local wildlife authorities to ensure the safety of all personnel in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials said in a Friday afternoon statement that the attack occurred in a remote area of the base with limited access, west of the Glenn Highway. <\/p>\n
The timing of the encounter is unclear, though it appeared to have been a defensive attack from a bear that had recently emerged from its den, wildlife officials said. <\/p>\n
The bear hadn\u2019t been located as of Friday, according to the Fish and Game statement. <\/p>\n
While state wildlife officials said there wasn\u2019t an elevated risk of another bear encounter in that area given its location, JBER closed the area of the attack to recreation.<\/p>\n
Both soldiers were carrying bear spray and used it during the encounter, officials said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope both individuals have a full and quick recovery, and our thoughts are with them during this time,\u201d Fish and Game Regional Supervisor Cyndi Wardlow said in the statement. \u201cIn this case, having bear spray with them in the field may have saved their lives.\u201d <\/p>\n
Spring weather and increasing bear activity means an increased risk of encounters for Alaskans, wildlife officials said. <\/p>\n
\u201cCarrying deterrents and being prepared to use them is an essential part of working and recreating across Alaska,\u201d the department said in its statement. <\/p>\n
Although an initial report suggested the soldiers were attacked by a brown bear, Fish and Game staff members collected evidence at the scene to confirm the species and gender of the bear and determine whether its DNA has been previously collected during other research or management activities, according to the department.<\/p>\n
The Department of Fish and Game asked anyone who sees a brown bear in Anchorage or any wild animal behaving aggressively or unusually, to report it online<\/a>, or call 911 if it is an emergency. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n