Black Bear Fatally Attacks Teen During Trail Race

Troopers have identified the young man killed in Sunday's bear mauling at Bird Ridge as 16-year-old Patrick Cooper of Anchorage.

— Beth Verge (@ktuubeth) June 19, 2017

#AlaskaNews with Ch2KTUU:

Local law enforcement confirms 16-year-old boy was killed in bear attack at Bird Creek.… https://t.co/EI5Oj1Hxm3

— Alaska Tech Talk (@AlaskaTechTalk) June 19, 2017

Troopers release name of boy killed by bear Sunday at Bird Ridge trail race https://t.co/Q4Y6RiZpFR pic.twitter.com/DVWEu7t6tv

— Anchorage Daily News (@adndotcom) June 19, 2017

One of the thrills of being in Alaska’s untamed wilderness areas also represent an equal amount of danger, even in the close vicinity to the state’s largest city. Near Anchorage, a 16-year-old boy competing in a trail race was killed during an attack by a black bear. 

Here’s KTUU with more:

Alaska State Troopers have identified the victim of Sunday’s bear mauling at Bird Ridge as 16-year-old Patrick Cooper of Anchorage.

Dozens of runners, including the teen, toed the starting line that morning for the mountain race that begins at the start of Bird Creek Trail, and meanders through heavily wooded terrain. As for the ascent, that’s a 3,400-foot vertical climb that spans three miles for adult racers and half that for juniors, those who are 17 and younger taking on the mountain.

Challenging terrain, but in those three decades, many said the territory had never proven to be a big problem.

That all changed shortly after noon Sunday.

“I’ve been running in the mountains for 30 years,” said Brad Precosky, a director of the race. “People come down off the trail and say they’ve run into a bear. Sometimes that means nothing; other times, it’s really serious. Like this.”

Such a tragedy; condolences to the young man’s loved ones.

Update: There’s been another fatal bear attack in the state:

This is the second fatal bear attack in as many days in Alaska.https://t.co/87dC2akkEq

— Annie Zak (@annie_zak) June 19, 2017