The Penguin Ridge Trail has been closed after a reported bear attack on a female jogger suffered an attack by a bear sow with cubs on Monday morning.

According to the trooper dispatch, 59-year-old Susanne Knudsen was running on the trail when two brown bear cubs emerged from the brush alongside the trail in front of her. As one of the cubs came towards Knudsen, she was attacked from behind by the cub’s mother. She was wearing earbuds and did not hear the mother approach from behind.

After the attack, Knudsen used her cell phone to report the attack and call for help. A short time later, a group of ATV riders with Alaska ATV Adventures came across Knudsen.

When troopers responded to the trail’s parking lot at 10:20 am, an Alaska ATV Adventures employee was at the lot awaiting their arrival. The company employee loaned the trooper an ATV and the trooper and guided authorities up the trail to the attack site.

When they arrived at the scene, they found Knudsen with a number of ATV riders. With the assistance of Alaska ATV Adventures, Knudsen was transported to a nearby parking lot where she was transferred to a LifeMed helicopter for transport to Anchorage and hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Knudsen, who is a long-time jogger on the trail, was bitten and clawed on her neck and head area in the attack.

ADF&G closed the trail for a week due to the bear activity. This is the second attack in two years on the trail.

  Alaska, Anchorage, brown bear, injuries, jogger, mauling, penguin trail, susanne knudsen