The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge closed the trail on the south shores of Skilak Lake Trail today after a young woman was attacked by a bear there yesterday.
20-year-old Gabrielle Markel was running on Cottonwood Creek Trail with a coworker on the trail yesterday when a bear emerged from the brush and threw Markel to the ground. She received bites and scratches to her head, arms, and back.
She is recovering at an Anchorage hospital.
Deputy Wildlife Refuge Manager Steve Miller said the trail was closed today so crews could investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Miller: “So what we’re looking for is, is there a carcass there perhaps a carcass or something else that’s attracting bear there. We know that there’s Cottonwood Creek there, it’s an anadromous stream so we have salmon going up the stream so we know there is a food source there for the bears but we’re seeing if there’s another contributing cause.
If no carcass or other attractant near the trail is found, Miller said the refuge will reopen the trail this evening.
Miller said based on Markel’s injuries, the attack appeared to be defensive.
Miller: “Something startled that bear, the bear reacted the way bears do. Once that threat was removed, they just moved on.”
Miller said there is no way to identify the bear involved in the attack and based on the nature of the attack, the refuge is not interested in putting it down.