Eagle River runner attacked by brown bear
KTUU TV
by Jennifer Zilko?Friday, Oct. 26, 2007
EAGLE RIVER, Alaska -- An Eagle River Nature Center volunteer was attacked by a brown bear Thursday.
Sarah Wallmer was running down Crow Pass Trail with her dog when she heard a "woof."
She looked uphill to see a brown bear sow less than 30 yards away charging toward her.
Wallmer dropped the dog leash and barely had time to turn away from the bear before it bit her in the rear end.
The bear then walked away.
Nature Center official Louise Preyer said the incident was simply a matter of bad timing because Wallmer got between the sow and her cub.
"It's a matter of semantics. It's not a rogue bear out attacking people. She was a mother defending her cub," Preyer said.
Wallmer suffered four puncture wounds from the sow's canine teeth.
She was treated at a local clinic and released.
Contact Jennifer Zilko at jzilko@ktuu.com
