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The good news is you can ride a bicycle to work; the bad news is you still have to deal with road rage.........
http://www.ktva.com/oldlocal/ci_15302981?source=rss
Cyclist Plays Dead; Survives Grizzly Bear Attack
Carolyn Kuckertz
Created: 06/15/2010 03:46:12 PM PDT
An Anchorage man is recovering after a grizzly bear attacked him on Rover's Run Trail in Far North Bicentennial Park.
Police say 45-year-old Sean Berkey was riding his bike to the Alaska Native Medical Center, where he works as a Pediatric Pharmacist, when a female brown bear with a cub charged him around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Officers say Berkey tried to use his bike as a shield, but the bear was still able to swipe him. Berkey then played dead until the bear left the area.
Berkey's injuries appear to be fairly minor. He suffered cuts on his ears and legs and was able to ride to ANMC where he was treated for his injuries.
The state's Department of Fish and Game says it is conducting DNA tests on some of the forensic evidence left behind at the scene to see if this particular bear has been involved in any another attacks or aggressive behavior.
Right now, Fish and Game biologists say they don't have any plans to track and shoot the bear, but should the tests reveal any links, they will reevaluate that plan.
The trail is the same area where 15-year-old Petra Davis was attacked in June 2008 while competing in a 24-hour trail-bike race. Davis' injuries were so severe that she spent 20 days in the hospital and underwent several surgeries to treat bite wounds to her neck, shoulder and thigh.
Just two months later in August 2008, a grizzly with two cubs also attacked a jogger on Rover's Run trail. 51-year-old Clivia Feliz suffered tears on her arm, puncture wounds on her head and neck, and a partially collapsed lung as a result of the attack.
After the attacks on Davis and Feliz, the city closed Rover's Run trail until the bears went into hibernation that fall.
City officials say there are no plans to close the trail at this time because the bear was acting in a defensive mode to protect her cubs.
Anchorage Police would like to remind cyclists and hikers that female bears fiercely defend their young cubs, and may respond aggressively if they perceive an attack on their cubs.
For more information on how to protect yourself in bear territory, you can go to the State's Bear Awareness Website.
http://www.ktva.com/oldlocal/ci_15302981?source=rss
Cyclist Plays Dead; Survives Grizzly Bear Attack
Carolyn Kuckertz
Created: 06/15/2010 03:46:12 PM PDT
An Anchorage man is recovering after a grizzly bear attacked him on Rover's Run Trail in Far North Bicentennial Park.
Police say 45-year-old Sean Berkey was riding his bike to the Alaska Native Medical Center, where he works as a Pediatric Pharmacist, when a female brown bear with a cub charged him around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Officers say Berkey tried to use his bike as a shield, but the bear was still able to swipe him. Berkey then played dead until the bear left the area.
Berkey's injuries appear to be fairly minor. He suffered cuts on his ears and legs and was able to ride to ANMC where he was treated for his injuries.
The state's Department of Fish and Game says it is conducting DNA tests on some of the forensic evidence left behind at the scene to see if this particular bear has been involved in any another attacks or aggressive behavior.
Right now, Fish and Game biologists say they don't have any plans to track and shoot the bear, but should the tests reveal any links, they will reevaluate that plan.
The trail is the same area where 15-year-old Petra Davis was attacked in June 2008 while competing in a 24-hour trail-bike race. Davis' injuries were so severe that she spent 20 days in the hospital and underwent several surgeries to treat bite wounds to her neck, shoulder and thigh.
Just two months later in August 2008, a grizzly with two cubs also attacked a jogger on Rover's Run trail. 51-year-old Clivia Feliz suffered tears on her arm, puncture wounds on her head and neck, and a partially collapsed lung as a result of the attack.
After the attacks on Davis and Feliz, the city closed Rover's Run trail until the bears went into hibernation that fall.
City officials say there are no plans to close the trail at this time because the bear was acting in a defensive mode to protect her cubs.
Anchorage Police would like to remind cyclists and hikers that female bears fiercely defend their young cubs, and may respond aggressively if they perceive an attack on their cubs.
For more information on how to protect yourself in bear territory, you can go to the State's Bear Awareness Website.
