Soldier Killed in Alaska by Grizzly

Staff Sgt. Seth Michael Plant was killed by a grizzly (brown) bear in early May. He was working with two other soldiers marking out a navigation trail in a heavily wooded area of the military base known as JBER (joint base elmendorf-richardson) outside of Anchorage. 

Brown bears typically don't attack humans unless they feel threatened or are surprised. The soldiers later found a den nearby and it seems likely the sow was attempting to protect her cubs. 

It was unclear whether the soldiers had bear spray or a gun at the time but the bear got away and has yet to be found by authorities. One of the other soldiers also sustained minor injuries in the attack. Bears have attacked humans in Alaska every year for the last several years. The last fatal attack occurred in September of 2020.

Photo: kens5.com

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