By JAMES CIRRONE, US NEWS REPORTER
Published: 02:55 BST, 19 April 2026 | Updated: 02:56 BST, 19 April 2026
Two US Army soldiers were seriously injured Thursday after they were mauled by a brown bear during a training exercise in a mountainous region of Alaska, the military said.
The two unidentified servicemembers with the 11th Airborne Division encountered the bear during a 'land navigation training event' in the Arctic Valley, which is within Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, according to the Associated Press.
The soldiers had pepper spray and deployed it on the bear after it leaped at them and attacked, according to a press release.
'The incident is currently under investigation, and we are working closely with installation authorities and local wildlife officials to gather all relevant information and ensure the safety of all personnel in the area,' the 11th Airborne Division said in a statement.
Lieutenant Colonel Jo Nederhoed, a spokesperson for the 11th Airborne Division, told ABC News that both soldiers were left with serious injuries and are currently being treated at a medical facility in Anchorage.
As of Saturday morning, their conditions had improved, but they will need ongoing care as they recover, Nederhoed added.
The 11th Airborne Division, also known as the Arctic Angels, is an elite specialized unit within the US Army that is trained to conduct missions in extreme cold weather and in high-altitude locations.
The division was first created in 1943 during World War II, then disbanded in 1958. It was reactivated in the summer of 2022.
Two US soldiers were seriously injured by a brown bear while doing an exercise in a mountainous training area at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska
The two unidentified service members deployed their pepper spray at the bear, according to the US Army (Pictured: A stock image of a brown bear in South Central Alaska)
There has been no update on the location or status of the bear the soldiers encountered, but state authorities are investigating the incident.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said no bears were found in the area after the soldiers were attacked.
'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,' the agency said in a statement.
Samples collected from the scene will be analyzed for DNA to confirm the species and gender of the bear involved, the agency said.
The base has an area of 100 square miles within Anchorage, where there are up to 350 black bears and 75 brown bears.
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