UA Professor Recovering From Bear Attack

Another bear attack – this one in Southeast Alaska – has a university professor recovering in an Anchorage hospital.

From the Associated Press via the Juneau Empire:

A sow with two cubs attacked University of Alaska Southeast assistant professor Forest Wagner on Mount Emmerich, near Haines, Alaska, where he was leading 11 students and two teaching assistants Monday, said spokeswoman Katie Bausler. A student hiked down the mountain to get cellphone reception and called for help. No one else was hurt.

Troopers coordinated a helicopter rescue into Haines. Wagner was then flown to Anchorage for treatment. The hospital said Wagner, 35, of Juneau, would not give interviews.

Troopers’ spokeswoman Megan Peters said it wasn’t clear what kind of bear attacked Wagner.

Students were evacuated from the mountain after someone saw the bear in the area, but Peters said that person was too panicked to relay the type of bear.

The students spent the night in Haines with another professor and planned to take a ferry back Tuesday to Juneau, Bausler said.

Meanwhile, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist was seeking information on the attack and planned to interview the students upon their return to Juneau, according to spokesman Ken Marsh.