Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska State Troopers say a brown bear that was with her cub attacked teens participating in a survival skills course, badly injuring two in the group.
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Troopers say the teens were among seven students participating in a 30-day backcountry course by the National Outdoor Leadership School when the attack occurred Saturday night about 120 miles north of Anchorage. They were rescued early Sunday.
NOLS spokesman Bruce Palmer says another group of seven students and three instructors is waiting about six miles away for a helicopter hired by the Lander, Wyo.-based organization.
Palmer says 17-year-old Joshua Berg of New City, N.Y., and 17-year-old Samuel Gottsegen of Denver were the worst injured with bear bite wounds. They are listed in serious condition at an Anchorage hospital.
Palmer says two others also were injured to a lesser extend.
Along with Berg and Gottsegen, the group included 16 year-old Samuel Boas of Connecticut, 16 year-old Noah Allaine of New Mexico, 17 year-old Simeon Melman of New York, 18 year-old Victor Martin of California, and 16 year-old Shane Garlock of New York.
Refuah Shelema to the victims.
That was a grizzley or brown bear. Black bears which are in this area are not this dangerous. Also, I wander if they had bear spray.
I think any bear with her cubs is considered dangerous. Chaval on these poor kids.
Great survival skills, hope they get a refund.
the names sound Jewish
Similar to the recent case in Yosemite’ this was a bear with her cubs. NEVER get between moma bear and her cubs!
Any names available for tehilim….
Very sad. Refuah shelaima
Who dares to take survival skills classes during the 3 weeks? Shomer pesoyim hashem
It is insane to willingly test ourselves in this manner during the 3 Weeks-especially without a Ruger chambered in caliber 454 Cassul.
i wish them all a speedy recovery- jewish or not jewish! but when someone asks if they are jewish its just out of curiosity….not because we care less. i cry when i hear of anyone -no matter what race, ethnicity or religion gets hurt….but my first reaction was ….”oh these names sound jewish….(or german..)” its just a knee jerk reaction- but i still pray for them and all those hurt in Norway and all those children starving in africa and somalia….whether they are jewish or not…..May HKB”H heal all those that are sick except sonei yisrael that are out to hurt us……
This thread gets more and more parochial by the minute.
Some enterprising youngsters got into unfortunate difficulties R”L. Efforts are being made to rescue them. All WE have to do is to pray to HaShem for their speedy recovery for their injuries.
No need to worry ourselves as to whether or not they are Jewish. All human beings are HaShem’s creations.
Stop your bickering; just daven!
Refuah sheleima. If anyone knows about the percentage of survival for an attack. Both these boys were saved!!!! Especially from a Mother bear protecting her cubs.
to the bear “spray” comment, there is an old saying “when in the woods carry bear spray and wear bells on your feet. The bells creat noise so you will not sneak up on an animal accidentally and the spray for defense. Also, know how to differentiate between grizzly bear and black bear waste. The black bears will appear to be full of grass, berries and whatever else the animal can find, grizzly bear waste has tiny bells in it and smells like pepper””
Best wishes to these young men on a speedy recovery and the bravery to go into the wilderness to learn survival skills. They may never need to build emergency shelter in brooklyn, but the confidence it builds will help in all other areas of life.
3 weeks is different than the 9 days…look it up.
Last year I traveled to Alaska with my husband and baby, so glad I did’t meet one. A yak at the zoo tried to attack my baby and so did a horse. Babies aren’t seen there and animals smell their sweet blood. I wanted to meet bears but when I heard how vicious these animals are (even a moose) I stayed away. Alaska is a beautiful place but if you need help, the hospital will charge you over $20k (if you can’t make it down Flattop Mountain), just sometime doing things without thinking makes it not worth it! These kids sure got that point and hopefully every teenager.