Mother of Three Seriously Injured in Bear Attack During Morning Jog
A mother of three was brutally attacked and dragged 100 yards by a brown bear shortly after she left her home in Alaska for a morning run.
Ariean Fabrizio Colton, 36, remarkably survived the harrowing incident but remains hospitalized due to significant injuries that necessitated surgery, as reported by local wildlife authorities and her distraught family.
At approximately 5 a.m., the bear suddenly lunged from a nearby area, ambushing Colton about 150 feet from her residence in Kenai. She was found badly injured and bleeding in a neighbor’s yard, according to Alaska Wildlife Trooper David Looring.
The trooper recounted that the neighbor initially heard strange barking sounds, speculating that a bear might have attacked a dog. Upon investigating further in daylight, he discovered Colton in the woods on his property.
Wildlife officials confirmed that the injured woman was conscious when discovered but had suffered severe facial and scalp lacerations.
Colton was subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Anchorage, located nearly three hours from her home.
“She is stable but has endured significant injuries requiring multiple surgeries and an extended recovery period,” her family shared on a GoFundMe page that has collected over $63,700 to aid her medical expenses.
In a family update, they noted, “Ariean has undergone her initial surgery, and the doctors express optimism, but the recovery journey is expected to be lengthy.”
While officials suspect the attacking animal was a brown bear based on the tracks found, it has yet to be located.
Authorities are advising both residents and visitors to stay vigilant as bears are currently foraging for salmon and berries ahead of winter.
Trooper Looring also emphasized the importance of being alert while outdoors: “If you venture into the woods, be aware of your surroundings. A simple way to stay attuned is by using just one earbud instead of two.”
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