“Employees of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) responded to the location of a reported bear attack Thurs, April 16, in Anchorage on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). Two soldiers sustained injuries in the attack during a land navigation training event on JBER. They reported having bear spray with them to responding personnel. No bears were encountered at the site by first responders or ADFG staff during the subsequent investigation. The attack occurred in a remote area of JBER, with limited access, on the west side of the Glenn Highway.”

“JBER has closed the area near the attack for all recreational activity. Based on the scene investigation and information from other responding agencies, this appears to be a defensive attack by a bear recently emerged from a den. Initial reports identified the involved animal as a brown bear; however, samples collected during the initial investigation will be processed with the goal of positively identifying species and gender of the animal involved. DNA analysis of collected samples will be performed by the ADFG Gene Conservation Lab in Anchorage, and samples from the attack will be analyzed to determine if they match any materials collected in other research or management activities,” wrote the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in a Friday press release.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has yet to announce whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr will lead a special investigative committee aimed at running the bear over with a Humvee, cutting off its penis, and then barbecuing the rest of its remains.