A female hiker mauled by a bear while on a trail in Anchorage, Alaska was rushed to the hospital by air this week, authorities said.
A hiker called 911 on Tuesday afternoon after being attacked by the animal, the Anchorage Fire Department said in a statement on Facebook. She reported that she needed help as soon as possible.
“The hiker reported they could not get out on their own due to injuries sustained in the mauling,” the department said.
She was on the phone with authorities for nearly an hour as drones were deployed to try and find her exact location as she had been dragged off the trail in the attack, Anchorage Police spokesperson Christopher Barraza told NBC News affiliate KTUU.
“She was fully coherent when we were able to rescue her,” Barraza said.
The hiker, who was not identified, had injuries to her to the back of her head, her neck, and her arm, according to Barraza. She was airlifted to a hospital and is in stable condition.
KTUU reported that the woman believed she was attacked by a brown bear, some species of which are referred to as Grizzly bears.
Brown bears are native to Alaska and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, according to the state’s Department of Fish and Game. The department notes that “aggressive bear encounters are rare” and that the animals tend to avoid humans.
“Conflicts arise when they are attracted to human food or garbage or when we surprise them while out on the trail,” the department website says.
