US Army soldiers injured in bear attack during field training in Alaska
BY Herschel Smith
1 hour, 6 minutes ago
During a training exercise in Alaska, two U.S. Army soldiers were attacked by a brown bear, officials said.
The two troops were participating in a “land navigation training event” at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s Arctic Valley training area in Anchorage, Lt. Col. Jo Nederhoed, a spokesperson for the 11th Airborne Division, told the Anchorage Daily News.
Wildlife officials from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game told the Anchorage Daily News the incident appeared to have been a defensive attack after the bear recently emerged from its den, and both soldiers were carrying bear spray and used it.
“We hope both individuals have a full and quick recovery, and our thoughts are with them during this time,” Fish and Game Regional Supervisor Cyndi Wardlow told the newspaper.
After the incident, the soldiers were “receiving appropriate medical care” Friday morning. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
“The safety and well-being of our personnel is our highest priority,” Nederhoed said. “The incident is under investigation, and we are coordinating with local wildlife authorities to ensure the safety of all personnel in the area.”
So, the deployment of bear spray wasn’t a successful tactic. Color me shocked.
I guess the safety and well-being of their personnel isn’t really their highest priority since they weren’t carrying large bore sidearms for bear defense.
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On April 19, 2026 at 8:56 pm, Paul B said:
Dunno but an M4 in 5.56 would have done a better job than bear spray. Just as a what if.