Another Bear Attack

From a copyright AP story in today's Daily News:

A geologist who was mauled by a bear near Rainy Pass Lodge is reported in fair condition at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

KTUU-TV reports 54-year-old Bob Miller was attacked Sunday afternoon as he was walking to a helicopter picking up a Millrock Exploration survey crew. The lodge is 125 air miles northwest of Anchorage in the Alaska Range.

Lodge owner Steve Perrins helped provide first aid.

"He stayed conscious with us the whole time, was coherent, even had a sense of humor a couple times, which is pretty tough to do because he was in rough shape," Perrins said. "It was good. It was the perfect scenario for something like that to stabilize someone until we could get him in the medevac."

Tony Kavalok with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says Miller tried to defend himself.

"He was charged by the bear -- he had a .357 Magnum revolver, fired at the bear," Kavalok said.

He got lucky - there was little or no warning, and there was help already on the spot. We can't say it often enough: please keep your eyes open, and bear spray & large-caliber weapon handy when you're in bear country.