A solo female hiker was recently mauled by a brown bear on a popular trail near Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. The attack occurred on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, near the Basher Trailhead in the Stuckagain Heights area. The woman was hiking alone when she was attacked and dragged off the trail by the large grizzly bear.
After the attack, the victim managed to call 911 for help but was unable to move due to her injuries. First responders, including the Anchorage Fire Department, Anchorage Police Department, Alaska Department of Public Safety, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, launched a rescue operation to locate the disoriented women. Drones were used to locate the woman in the dense Alaskan wilderness, who was airlifted to a local hospital. Anchorage Police spokesperson Christopher Barraza told local news network KTUU, “The hiker reported they could not get out on their own due to injuries sustained in the mauling.” Fortunately for the victim, she was fully coherent when rescuers arrived on scene.
The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries to her head, neck, and arm, and is currently in stable condition. The grizzly bear involved in the attack fled the scene, and its whereabouts are currently unknown. Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials are investigating the incident and searching for the bear. Hikers and recreationalists are advised to avoid the trails around the Stuckagain Heights area for the time being.
Anchorage—and Alaska more broadly—is considered bear country, with both black and brown bears living within the municipality. Hikers and visitors to parks or trails are urged to follow bear-aware practices, such as making noise, hiking in groups, carrying bear spray or firearms, and giving bears plenty of space. In case of a bear encounter, it’s recommended to stand your ground, make yourself appear large, and talk to the bear to let it know you are human. If under attack by a grizzly, it is best to play dead, while black bears are likely to run off when attacked. Running from a bear can trigger its chase instinct.
While grizzly bear attacks are both tragic and devastating, they are also incredibly rare. In North America, there are typically 2 to 3 fatal grizzly bear attacks per year. Compared to the millions of tourists that visit places such as Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, and the entirety of Alaska, the odds are pretty low of coming into contact with a predatory grizzly. Still, being bear aware in locations grizzlies are known to frequent and practicing safety precaution’s is an absolute must in western North America’s backcountry.
