A nurse had to have surgery for serious injuries after she was dragged 100 yards by a bear soon after leaving her front door.
Ariean Colton, 36, was on her way out for an early morning jog when the animal mauled her at around 5.45am on Tuesday.
She had only recently moved to Alaska with her husband and three children, and will now need ‘extensive surgeries and a long hospital stay,’ her family said.
A neighbour who heard noises thought a bear may have attacked a dog in the area, but when he came outside realised that a woman had fallen victim.
She was airlifted to hospital by helicopter with bloody wounds to her face and head, still conscious and able to talk despite being in shock.
Meanwhile, authorities searched for the animal on foot and using a drone, but did not manage to locate it. They warned others to be on alert for what they believe to be a brown bear due to the description and its tracks.
Ariean was described as ‘a loving wife, mother of three, and a nurse, known for her adventurous spirit and love of nature’ in a fundraising page set up to help with medical bills and ongoing rehabilitation.
The page, which has so far raised $66,668, says the Colton family had only moved to Alaska earlier this summer, and ‘were enjoying their beautiful new home’.
It said Ariean was ‘extremely kind-hearted, strong, and resilient’ as well as ‘always willing to help those in need’.
Alaska Wildlife tooper David Lorring told KTUU-TV: ‘She made it probably 50 yards from her house.
‘The bear came out of another property, it looks like it attacked her … and dragged her approximately 100 yards down the road onto this guy’s property.’
He told how a neighbour ‘heard the barking, wolfing sound of a bear’ and ‘thought a bear might have got a dog or was doing something in the neighborhood’: ‘He didn’t really think much of it, and then he heard it some more. He ended up, daylight, he walked out there and located a female in the woods on his property.’
Amanda Colton, who set up the fundraising page on behalf of Ariean’s husband Tyler Colton, said the costs of the surgeries and other care would be ‘difficult to the family to manage’.
The hospital treating her in in Anchorage is over two hours away by road, which will also make it harder for family to visit.
In an update, she posted: ‘We are so appreciative of all donations, prayers, and well wishes on Ariean’s behalf.
‘Ariean has had her initial surgery and the doctors are positive and hopeful. It is still a long road to recovery, so please continue providing support and sharing this link. Thank you !!’
Alaska State Troopers said in a statement after the incident: ‘Residents in the area of Chinook Drive in Kenai are asked to be on high alert following a bear attack in the area this morning.
‘Please remain vigilant when outdoors, supervise children and pets closely, and secure attractants such as trash, pet food, and bird feeders.
‘If you encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and do not approach. Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are in the area.’
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