6/16: Wild Animals Go ... um, Wild

An Anchorage man commuting to work on his bicycle was attacked by a brown bear in Far North Bicentennial Park today, according to the state Department of Fish and Game.

Sean Berkey, 45, played dead and was not severely injured. He was able to ride his bike to the Alaska Native Medical Center for treatment, said Fish and Game spokesman Rick Sinnott.

The bear was a small sow with a cub, Sinnott said. "It sounds like a classic brown bear defensive attack," he said.

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As an Australian living on Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Brian Hard is accustomed to peril underfoot. After all, Australia is home to crocodiles, all manner of deadly snakes and venomous spiders.

Monday afternoon, he was visited by danger from above.

Walking from the Cooper Landing Library toward the Wildman's store on the Sterling Highway just after 4 p.m., a bird he believes was an eagle swooped down and dug its talons into Hard's skull.

Click the links for the stories from the Anchorage Daily News.