Скачать или смотреть Brown Bear Attacks Hiker Near Barbara Falls, Alaska On July 26th, 2025

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At around ten o’clock in the morning, a hiker, whom we will call Don, was making their way along a well-worn trail near Barbara Falls in Eagle River, Alaska. Barbara Falls, also known locally as South Fork Falls, sits nestled in the forested foothills of Chugach State Park. The area lies just east of Anchorage, where the rugged terrain of the Chugach Mountains gives way to steep wooded canyons, flowing creeks, and seasonal salmon runs. The climate here is defined by cool, wet summers, with average temperatures in the upper fifties and frequent cloud cover. In July, wildflowers are in bloom and alder, birch, and cottonwood trees line the trails. Devil’s club and highbush cranberry form dense underbrush, while salmonberry and red currant bushes add color and food for wildlife.
Large plant-eating animals in the region include moose, Dall sheep, and mountain goats, especially on higher slopes above the tree line. Common predators include wolves, coyotes, lynx, and both black and brown bears. Becoming highly active near riverbanks in midsummer, brown bears are drawn by the spawning runs of pink and chum salmon. It’s in these rich ecological intersections, where forested hiking trails overlap with prime foraging zones, that bear encounters are most likely to occur.
Don was enjoying a trip to the forest with a canine friend, whom we will call Fletch. Fletch was off leash, and was sampling the scents, sights and sounds along the trail.
As Don and Fletch navigated a thick patch of brush, the dog began barking frantically before a massive brown bear seemed to materialize from the ground. Appearing within a few yards of the hiker, the bear gave no time to react. No source indicated if Don carried bear spray or a firearm, but at this distance it didn’t matter. Even the best of training couldn’t prepare anyone for a point blank range ambush.
Within fractions of a second, the ticked off momma bear had tackled Don to the ground. With snapping jaws she tore holes in flesh and sent streaking pain wherever her claws touched.
In a violent but brief attack, the sow inflicted what she considered to be appropriate damage on the violator of her peace. Possibly worried about the safety of her cubs, the sow broke off the attack without unleashing any anger on Fletch, opting to round up her cubs and disappear into the brush.
As you can tell by the satellite view of the area, there are housing developments in every direction, so Don had no problem using a cell phone to dial 911. Help was sent immediately and after a brief search, first responders had Don loaded into an ambulance and headed to a hospital. With injuries cleaned, sutured and bandaged, Don was listed in stable condition with non life threatening injuries.
The hiker who survived the encounter will hopefully make a full recovery. Their close call serves as a reminder to all outdoor recreationists that Alaska’s wilderness, though breathtakingly beautiful, remains wild. Even on a summer morning just a few miles from Anchorage, the reactive instincts of a bear can change a life in an instant.
As of the day following the attack, the section of trail near Barbara Falls remained closed while rangers monitored for continued bear activity. According to statements from Alaska State Parks, no further aggressive behavior has been reported, and no bears were euthanized or captured in the aftermath. The bear’s behavior was described as defensive, not predatory, and consistent with the actions of a sow protecting cubs or startled by a sudden encounter with people and dogs. Rangers did not find an animal carcass or gut pile in the area that would suggest a food cache, but cubs were noted to be present. Speaking of cubs, our Cub Tier Membership on Patreon, linked below, will give you ad-free early access to episodes, photos and notes. And, the three dollars per month goes a long way in helping me continue to produce educational and entertaining content like this.
Alaska hosts around 30,000 brown bears with several hundred of them making their home in Chugach State Park. Bear attacks in Chugach State Park are rare but not unheard of. In the past decade, there have been a handful of confirmed bear-human conflicts in the vicinity of Eagle River, particularly during the peak salmon season of July and August. Alaska averages two to three bear attacks annually, with serious injuries or fatalities occurring in roughly one out of every ten cases. The vast majority of incidents involve surprise encounters in areas where bears have limited visibility or are feeding on natural food sources.