Up to 350 black bears and 75 brown bears roam freely around the base where the exercise was being held
The incident happened on Thursday as the soldiers were taking part in a “land navigation training event” in Arctic Valley, part of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s training area.
The soldiers were receiving medical care as of Friday, a military official told the Anchorage Daily News. Queries sent to base were not immediately returned on Friday.
The soldiers’ conditions were not released pending notification of relatives.
Both soldiers used pepper spray on the bear, the official said. Few other details were available about the incident because it was still under investigation.
“The safety and well-being of our personnel is our highest priority,” Lieutenant Colonel Jo Nederhoed, a spokeswoman for the US Army 11th Airborne Division, said in an email to the Anchorage Daily News.
Source: News - South China Morning Post
