A 34-year-old hunter survived an attack by a brown bear in Alaska before fatally shooting the animal over the weekend, state police are reporting.
Nicholas Abraham, of Sterling, Alaska, was mauled while rabbit hunting on Saturday, according to a report from the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
The bear, a female, was in tow with cubs, state police reported, before it attacked Abraham as he hunted north of the Sterling Highway, a 138-mile-long road in the state’s south-central region.
Troopers said Abraham fatally shot the bear with a handgun.
The hunter suffered non life-threatening injuries, troopers reported.
Bear euthanized in Pennsylvania:Animal attacked two children, including a 1-year-old
Black bear enjoys swim:Black bear caught on camera enjoying a swim at crowded beach
Alaska remains a hot spot for brown bears, or grizzly bears
According to the National Park Service, Alaska is home to more than 50% of remaining North American brown bears, also known as grizzly bears.
The animals are omnivorous, eating a mixed diet of plants, berries, fish, and small mammals.
The are found in many U.S. national parks and require a high calorie diet. Brown bears in Alaska can eat 80 to 90 pounds of food per day in the summer and fall, NPS said, which helps them pack on roughly three to six pounds of fat each day as they prepare for winter hibernation.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
