Anchorage, Alaska — Two American soldiers were injured after encountering a brown bear in a mountainous training area in Anchorage, the US Army announced on Friday.
The accident occurred Thursday while the soldiers were participating in a “land navigation training event” in Arctic Valley, part of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson training area.
A military official told the Anchorage Daily News that the soldiers were receiving medical care as of Friday. Messages sent to Al Qaeda spokesmen were not immediately returned to The Associated Press on Friday.
The conditions of the soldiers were not revealed pending notification of their families.
The official said that the two soldiers used pepper spray on the bear. Few other details were available about the incident because it is still under investigation.
“The safety and well-being of our personnel is our top priority,” Lt. Col. Joe Niederheid, spokesman for the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division, said in an email to the Anchorage Daily News.
She added: “The incident is under investigation, and we are coordinating with local wildlife authorities to ensure the safety of all individuals in the area.”
The base covers 100 square miles (259 square kilometers) within the municipality of Anchorage, where up to 350 black bears and 75 brown bears roam freely.