> both soldiers sustained serious injuries in the incident but were treated promptly and are receiving care at a medical facility in Anchorage.
> As of Saturday morning, both continued to show improvement, but they will require ongoing care to support a full recovery, the spokesperson said.
I don’t want to imagine how bad injuries would be after a bear attack. The recovery is not going to be easy.
463
twoeightnine12 hr ago
+169
Could be worse. You could shoot yourself while getting attacked by a brown bear.
I was on the same trail about 20 miles away when this happened
https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/08/19/troopers-brown-bear-attack-seriously-injured-hunter-kenai-trail/
169
Ma1ikNabers11 hr ago
+146
>”It was like getting hit by a train and my feet went over my head,” Johnson said on Monday. “It put its teeth into my calf as I was falling backwards. I mean, he hit me at the same time I got my gun out and when I was falling backwards, I believe that’s when I shot myself in the leg.”
That’s crazy..
146
spintowinasin8 hr ago
+8
I mean, bear has leg, dude shoots at bear...
8
TheOriginalKrampus7 hr ago
+4
Who needs cryptids when regular old brown bears are scary (and cute) enough?
4
shwarma_heaven11 hr ago
+57
Want to see something terrifying? Compare the claws of a black bear, a grizzly bear, a polar bear.... and an Alaskan Brown Bear...... 😬
57
AkNinjaNSFW10 hr ago
+42
Specifically the Kodiak Brown Bear. They are HUGE.
42
No-Neighborhood21529 hr ago
+22
I lived in kodiak for a decade and running into them is terrifying... thankfully they are fairly chill as long as you aren't in between them and anything they care about. But when you run into one that is trying to figure out what you are and is standing on its hind legs... thats change of pants time
22
Starumlunsta8 hr ago
+10
Lived up there for a few years as a teen (Coastie family). Woke up one night to the sounds of our giant metal dumpster being tossed around like a tin can by a huge bear. I am forever grateful they never figured out our wooden doors would have been a lot easier to bust open.
10
No-Neighborhood21528 hr ago
+12
There's some pretty good videos of the last few years of bears that figured out how to open car doors in the middle of the night. My scariest encounter was stumbling out the back door of the village bar at 4am and running into the one in their dumpster. I dunno which one of us was more surprised but I know which one of us was more sober.
12
Specialist_Gap_339912 hr ago
+178
That’s terrifying. Glad they’re improving, but a bear mauling is life-changing stuff. Training in Alaska probably needs more mandatory bear-safety refreshers and loud deterrents, not just “here’s some spray, good luck.”
178
TheyveKilledFritzz12 hr ago
-34
I doubt they were even given spray
-34
Major_Burnside12 hr ago
+139
“the soldiers were equipped with bear spray, which they deployed.”
139
flamehead2k112 hr ago
+105
Look at this guy who can read
105
Global_Crew396810 hr ago
+7
what does this say?
7
NihilisticHobbit9 hr ago
-2
Bear spray isn't going to do much to a Kodiak.
-2
PhuqBeachesGitMonee11 hr ago
+10
They never issued us bear spray when I was there. Usually there’s a team they’ll call who will roll up on a golf cart and pop the bears with paintballs.
10
ClaytonRook9 hr ago
+6
The Bear Force?
6
Zaepflelove9 hr ago
+3
Riding on their battlefield taxi Bear Force One?
3
ClaytonRook8 hr ago
+1
They use a Cubmarine
1
Zaepflelove7 hr ago
+1
I thought they were part of the 101st Bearborne Division.
1
druidmain6942012 hr ago
-11
They weren't given anything but two slides on a PowerPoint during indoc
-11
1877KlownsForKids12 hr ago
+89
Those two are in for a frustrating life of the VBA stating bear attacks do not have a service nexus.
89
samoth61012 hr ago
+142
On a sniper course the instructor handed me a shotgun and said I was on "Bear duty". I thought to myself "Aint no f****** bears coming near this place". Now I feel dumb. Bear attack has to be one of the worst ways to go.
142
europorn12 hr ago
+34
Will a shotgun stop a bear? Serious question.
34
Talonsoldat12 hr ago
+99
Shotguns with slugs are commonly used for bear defense, a 12 ga slug is larger than a 50. Cal bullet, just moving slower, but is enough to work on a bear.
99
ManusDei11 hr ago
-6
Figured so. All about the shot placement though. Would expect the rounds to be magnum usually too.
-6
ManusDei12 hr ago
+31
Slug rounds I assume. I am not sure the effectiveness against larger bears like you would see in Alaska though.
31
S0LO_Bot12 hr ago
+27
A well placed shot? Yes. Especially if it’s slug-loaded. Shotguns are often the weapon of choice for this reason.
An indirect hit? Probably not. It depends on a lot of factors. Like the type / size of bear. If it’s a grizzly, how aggressive is that grizzly acting? If it’s already in full charge it might not stop even if severely wounded.
27
europorn12 hr ago
+21
> If it’s a grizzly, how aggressive is that grizzly acting? If it’s already in full charge it might not stop even if severely wounded.
That's what I was thinking. There are no bears where I live (except Drop Bears) but I've heard grizzlies can be unstoppable, even when wounded.
21
rob_112712 hr ago
+10
The same with Polar Bears, they don't stop!
10
O_PLUTO_O11 hr ago
+4
One of the only animals that actively hunt humans
4
ProlapseMishap9 hr ago
+3
Pringles too!
3
Keldaris11 hr ago
+16
> If it’s already in full charge it might not stop until it’s essentially dead.
And even if its dead thats still huge amount of mass with momentum comming at you.
I watched a guy get flattened by a bear that was charging him. He missed on the first shot, second blew half the bears face off, the bear hit the ground and rolled right into him. He went down hard and ended up with a dead bear on top of him. We were all glad it was a female cause im not sure we could have lifted a 7-800lb+ male off of him. He was okay, definitely sore, but no serious injuries.
16
I_Peed_on_my_Skis9 hr ago
+5
That’s nuts. What round was it?
5
Keldaris9 hr ago
+3
Challenger 2 3/4" 12 gauge slugs.
3
jwb10111 hr ago
+9
Yes, I’d have to find it but a world record grizzly was shot and killed by a 22 rifle back in the 40’s or 50’s or something like that. I’d definitely take a shotgun over a 22 though. Ammo type and shot placement matter as much, if not more, than caliber.
9
Amerlan11 hr ago
+10
357 is the smallest size that will drop a bear reliably. There are reports you can look at to see the % each caliber has success in killing a bear.
10
boofaceleemz11 hr ago
+22
Sure it can.
Just to be clear though, bear spray tends to result in better outcomes than any class of firearms in bear encounters. Even if you’re armed and out hunting in bear country, should probably bring some and use it as a first choice. I guess bears don’t like getting shot for some reason and might still take a piece of you if they can, but bear spray should make em f*** right off.
22
ManusDei11 hr ago
+10
I agree generally. I would still be much more comfortable with both. Although I believe the article says bear spray was deployed here and obviously wasn’t as effective. Although I guess it could have been deployed poorly or they were too close for an effective spray cloud.
10
boofaceleemz10 hr ago
+5
There’s research out there on it, I remembered about 90% no injuries versus 60 something and a quick Google confirms that, but research is only gonna tell you what’s generally better. I always thought I’d prefer a firearm as a first choice until I spoke with a Yellowstone ranger who had some personal experience and also knew the research. But yeah as soon as you’re talking a specific situation instead of generalities then anything can happen for sure.
5
ManusDei9 hr ago
+3
No I agree, generally best to go with the research even if having the firearm “feels” safer. It’s always so situational though it seems if considering the two options. Ideal world you deploy spray first and have enough time to be prepared with a reserve firearm option. But I imagine that’s like 1-5% of the time you would need it.
3
SandKeeper10 hr ago
+5
I wonder if they were trained with it. Getting issued it is one thing but messing up the spray in the moment is possible.
5
ManusDei9 hr ago
+3
I agree. My “training” is some YouTube videos, so can’t say much. Never used it for real and probably should get a dummy canister to practice with if ever going into serious bear country.
3
forumaccount10 hr ago
+2
Also probably dependent on what time of year. After waking up, a gunshot might be more pleasant than that fecal plug they’re trying to dislodge. And if it’s a mama with cubs around, don’t FA, coz the FO is gonna hurt.
2
FreakinWolfy_10 hr ago
+5
I’m a hunting guide in Alaska. I personally prefer a lever action 45-70, but yes, a 12 gauge with slugs is very effective against a bear at close range.
5
WindTreeRock6 hr ago
+1
If the shotgun is loaded with buck shot or slugs then yes, it has a chance to low down a bear. I would prefer slugs.
1
Keldaris12 hr ago
+4
Yes. I've dropped bears with a 12ga.
4
ManusDei11 hr ago
+2
What species? And for hunting purposes or defense? If don’t mind me asking.
2
Keldaris11 hr ago
+3
Two black bears and one Grizzly. The black bears were in defense of livestock, the Grizzly was self defense. Although I must admit I didn't get the kill shot on the grizzly. I did watch half its face get blown off though.
If my intent was to hunt a bear I'd rather use a .308 or 30-06, but a 12ga slug will still do the trick if needed.
3
ManusDei10 hr ago
+1
Appreciate it and agree. Especially if just using it for defense while hiking (etc.) or on a training exercise like this article.
1
cryyingboy12 hr ago
+52
the bear was also on a training mission
52
stinkbonesjones8 hr ago
+4
Ok that makes more sense. I was trying to figure out why these soldiers were training bears.
4
Soggy_Cracker7 hr ago
+2
This only happened because the bear didn’t attend the safety briefing.
2
judgejuddhirsch12 hr ago
+32
maybe we need an army of bears instead of soldiers.
32
LibertineLibra12 hr ago
+35
Around 2010, there was an idea proposed to the US Army to train bears to be able to parachute behind enemy lines, take off their parachuting rig, and use their sense of smell to locate a high value target (such as Bin Laden had been ) and neutralize it.
Of course the plan was never taken seriously, but it was a concept someone had thought to submit.
35
AmericanSteel41211 hr ago
+20
Correction: it hasn't been taken seriously YET. At some point, robobears will be a thing and the Army will probably revisit this idea with tech we can't even imagine rn.
20
raevnos11 hr ago
+6
I think there was a Love, Death & Robots episode along those lines.
6
TylerHyena11 hr ago
+3
Robobears sounds like a movie franchise in the making
3
Cetun12 hr ago
+9
That's some Fallout universe shit
9
Wingstorm09 hr ago
+3
This is something straight out of Red Alert
3
OneMoreDuncanIdaho9 hr ago
+3
The CIA did spend 20 million on [Acoustic Kitty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_Kitty) though
3
APeacefulWarrior9 hr ago
+4
If you've never heard the story, a bear achieved the rank of Corporal in the Polish army during WWII.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_(bear)
4
PurpleCoat665612 hr ago
+3
Cyber bear strikes again.
3
lost_order12 hr ago
+18
“DONT F*** WITH THE WILDLIFE!” Said every RSO ever.
18
cyclob_bob11 hr ago
+8
Bear tax is gonna go up again
8
SquallyZ069 hr ago
+8
Half eaten by a bear during land nav? I'm sorry, your injury is not service connected.
8
Bananas_are_theworst11 hr ago
+7
Geez as someone who used to live in Anchorage, I carried bear spray everywhere…but was more afraid of the moose for sure. It’s crazy scary to think the bear spray was deployed but obviously didn’t work enough.
7
Snoogieboogie12 hr ago
+12
Sure it wasn't the Enclave releasing a Deathclaw?
12
Modern_Doshin12 hr ago
+6
Patroling the Mohave makes you wish for a nuclear winter.
6
OkMode374610 hr ago
+5
Was this near the alaskan pyramid?
5
bigshooTer3910 hr ago
-1
Asking the real questions.
-1
IGC-Omega10 hr ago
+4
Bear attacks are rare, but when they occur my god are they brutal. I'd rather be attacked by a tiger. At least they go for the kill immediately, not bears.
Bears eat prey alive.
4
TheyveKilledFritzz12 hr ago
+5
That movie Southern Comfort except for the North instead of the South.
5
ParksZef12 hr ago
+3
That's why they call it JBEAR
3
tangyturquoise8 hr ago
+3
I’m pretty sure Alaska has polar bears, so at least it wasn’t one of those…or we might be reading about their departure from life rather than their recovery.
3
braxin237 hr ago
+3
Grizzlies are f****** horrifying because of how deceptively fast they are for their size and weight of up to 900 lbs!
3
tangyturquoise7 hr ago
+1
That’s true. All bears are horrifying in their own ways, for sure. Have you ever heard a koala bear? So cute, yet so demonic-sounding.
1
braxin237 hr ago
+3
The grizzlies taxonomic name has horribilis in it. I think it takes the cake for most dangerous sounding bear and the hands that made it too.
3
callmetimtim9 hr ago
+2
I recommend "Alaska Bear Tales" by Larry Kanuit. I would read it cover to cover a few times as a kid and always marveled at the survivor stories. Interesting book about historical Bear attacks and such in Alaska.
2
Sorry-Belt-351411 hr ago
+3
That bear is now a terrorist.
3
max_machina8 hr ago
+1
Where’s Parker when you need him? YEE YEE!
1
Strange-Luck-578612 hr ago
+1
Nature turns against us
1
Alarming-Cupcake156910 hr ago
-1
The demon in the ❄️ snow
-1
blac_sheep9012 hr ago
-5
What will happen to the bear should authorities locate it? I'm glad the soldiers survived but I don't think the bear should be euthanized.
-5
eddie2hands9991111 hr ago
-18
Were they women? Just wondering if they were testing the theory… (jk)
86 Comments