Jogger Critically Injured After Being Dragged ‘Approximately 100 Yards’ by Bear Outside Her Home

A woman in Alaska is recovering after being attacked by a bear while on her morning jog.

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Alaska Department of Public Safety confirmed in a press release that police were alerted about an incident involving a 36-year-old woman at around 6:58 a.m. near Chinook Drive in Kenai.

The victim, identified as Ariean Fabrizio Colton by multiple outlets and an as-yet-unverified GoFundMe page, had left her home roughly an hour earlier and “was near her driveway when the initial attack occurred,” officials said.

“A neighbor came outside and located her. The victim was medivac[ed] to an Anchorage area hospital with serious injuries,” the release continued. “Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Kenai Police Department, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game personnel searched the area on foot and with a drone looking for the bear.”

The Department of Public Safety added, “The bear has not been located. Patrols of the area will continue, and the public is advised to remain vigilant while outdoors.”

Alaska Wildlife Trooper David Lorring told KTUU that the bear dragged the woman “approximately 100 yards down the road” onto a neighbor’s property. She had only made it about 50 yards from her home before the attack, with the bear coming “out of another property.”

The trooper said that the neighbor who found the victim went outside after being awakened by sounds of a bear.

“He heard the barking, wolfing sound of a bear, he’d been around bears before and he thought a bear might have got a dog and was doing something in the neighborhood,” Lorring told the outlet. “He didn’t really think much of it and then he heard it some more. [In] daylight, he walked out there and located a female in the woods on his property.”

Lorring added that the woman was in shock and bleeding from her face and scalp. However, she was still conscious and able to speak.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety told USA TODAY on Friday, Aug. 29, that the woman was still in critical condition.

Lorring told KTUU that officials believe the bear is a brown bear and that there were no signs the animal was protecting food.

In a statement on Facebook, Alaska State Troopers urged residents in the area “be on high alert.”

“Please remain vigilant when outdoors, supervise children and pets closely, and secure attractants such as trash, pet food, and bird feeders,” they continued. “If you encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and do not approach.”

The City of Kenai Police Department confirmed later on Tuesday that the bear had still not been found and urged people to report any possible sightings.

A GoFundMe page, organized by Amanda Colton, has so far raised nearly $80,000. The money will go towards the woman’s medical bills, surgeries, and rehabilitation.

“On Tuesday morning, August 26, 2025, Ariean Fabrizio Colton was attacked by a bear outside her home while going for a jog,” the description read. “She is stable, but has suffered severe injuries that will require extensive surgeries and a long hospital stay. The family lives 2.5 hours from the hospital and will need a lot of support as Ariean recovers.”

The family had just moved “to Alaska earlier this summer,” according to the statement.

“Ariean is a loving wife, mother of three, and a nurse, known for her adventurous spirit and love of nature,” the description added. “She is extremely kind-hearted, strong, and resilient, and is always willing to help those in need.”

In a Saturday, Aug. 30, update on the fundraiser, the organizer confirmed that “doctors are positive and hopeful” after she came out of “her initial surgery.”

However, they noted that “It is still a long road to recovery.”