State officials say three hikers are safe after one called Anchorage police Wednesday to report they had been charged by black bears near the Eagle River Nature Center, before his cellphone lost contact.
Jessy Coltrane, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Anchorage-area biologist, says the man, as well as two female hikers with him, ended up spending about an hour hiding from at least one sow and some cubs between Heritage Falls and The Gulch. Eventually other people on the trail safely encountered the group at the scene.
"Two joggers walked back with them for like a mile," Coltrane said.
Coltrane says the joggers ran the rest of the way back to the nature center, and the hikers were en route there Wednesday afternoon.
According to APD spokesperson Jennifer Castro, police received a 911 call at 12:41 p.m. Wednesday from the man, who said the bears were blocking the group's return to the nature center about four miles away from the facility.
"The call got disconnected and we were unable to get back in contact with him," Castro said.
Jurisdiction over the matter had fallen to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as well as Chugach State Park, with park rangers also sent to the area to check on the hikers.
Coltrane says she hasn't directly spoken with the man, but has his cellphone number and plans to call him. She encourages hikers to consider where they're traveling, carry bear spray, mind their surroundings and stay flexible.
"Be prepared to change your plans when you're in the backcountry," Coltrane said.
Channel 2's Clinton Bennett contributed information to this story.
Contact Chris Klint