Teen mauled by bear in Alaskan bike race
Categories: Teens & tweens, Health & safety, In the news, Environment
This chilling incident luckily had a (mostly) happy ending. A fourteen-year-old girl was attacked by a bear during a bike race in Alaska but was saved by her 911 phone call. The teenager, who remains unnamed as of press-time, was participating in a 24-hour long mountain bike race in Anchorage when she was mauled.
The girl was able to make a call to 911, wherein all she was able to say was the word "bear." She later underwent surgery at a local hospital. Experts say the bear was probably a sow grizzly, and some speculate it was the same bear that went after two joggers earlier thew past week.
Dispatchers called the girl back as part of regular procedure, and another biker heard the ringing and went onto the darkened trail to investigate, discovering the teenager. Another biker remained with her until help arrived, despite the knowledge of the bear attack. Although little information has been released about the teen's condition, Police Lieutenant. Paul Honeman said the girl was in a fight for her life.
Grizzly pic by Ber'Zophus.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ame s 6-30-2008 @ 5:22PM
Sad story, but totally preventable.
Why are people so surprised and outraged when someone is attacked by a wild animal while "trespassing" into their habitat? Why are humans so arrogant to think they have the right to go anywhere and do anything they choose without worrying ramifications?
Guess what? Bears and wildcats live in the woods and forests. Sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, etc. live in the ocean. If a person chooses to go into their "home", they are taking a risk. I'm a bit tired of hearing people whine about wild animal attacks.
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EskimoPie 7-01-2008 @ 1:09PM
Totally Preventable? How exactly is that??? Never go outside? This was in Anchorage, a major metropolitan city... not exactly out in the boonies... I'm guessing it was down in Kincaid park which yes, is heavily wooded but still in a large city. A bear with a proven hostile temperament in an urban environment absolutely needs to be destroyed. This is not normal bear behavior.
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Steve hawkins 7-02-2008 @ 9:15AM
that what bears do numnuts. a little more time and he would have had a nice meal
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laurie 7-02-2008 @ 3:57PM
That is just an ugly thing to say. A nice meal out of a 14 year old girl?
I realize part of your "point" is true. Humans take risk at going into certain places. Sometimes even going into a McDonalds, or a Luby's cafateria can get one shot to death...
My point is why say something so cruel? Because some-other-poster had an opinion different from yours? GROW UP, and be a decent man will ya?
rpilate07 7-02-2008 @ 10:17AM
Its called the ecotone...where two ecological communities meet.
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Deb 7-02-2008 @ 4:37PM
Wine? I think you have an attitude, for Christs sake she was fourteen, and severly mauled, I know it's not the bears fault but it's not the kids ether, I can't believe saving a teenager is whining ,you are stupid beyond words ame s
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Debbie Morgan 7-05-2008 @ 9:55PM
I agree with everyone here. It's not productive to cast blame and certainly making cruel comments is wrong.
We should, however, learn from these stories. We should be smart when spending time in an ecotone. (thank you rpilate07!)
Since we are further up the food chain than the bear, we are the ones who should be prepared for this sort of eventuality.
Since safety and security is my business, I'm aware of products that can enhance ones safety but the average person usually isn't, so raising awareness is part of my job.
Bear repellents are easy to purchase and carry along with you when ever you find you will be in an ecotone where you may be faced with a not so friendly teddy.
Lots of places carry them but if you want to visit my store simply click on my name to find the link.
If you find you are often in bear territory, have bear repellent with you at all times and use it if necessary. You'll have a much happier story to tell than this one: )
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