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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Latest on a suspected bear attack in Alaska (all times local):
1:50 p.m.
State wildlife officials say a bear has been shot and killed in Anchorage, near where a man might have been severely attacked by the animal.
Anchorage police initially believed the man had been stabbed after he stumbled out of the woods Wednesday night and collapsed.
Department of Fish and Game spokesman Ken Marsh says someone reported seeing a small black bear wandering Thursday in the vicinity. He says agency biologists quickly found the animal, and fatally shot it with a 12-gauge shotgun after the animal showed no fear of humans and stood up when it got close to the responders.
Marsh cautions it hasn't been determined if the bear attacked anyone.
The man remains in critical condition at a hospital. His name was not immediately released.
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10:40 a.m.
Officials say a bear has been sighted in an area of Alaska's largest city where a man might have been attacked by a bear and severely injured.
Anchorage police initially believed the man had been stabbed after he stumbled out of the woods Wednesday and collapsed.
Department of Fish and Game spokesman Ken Marsh says someone reported seeing a small black bear Thursday in the vicinity. Responders are at the scene looking for the animal, but Marsh cautions it hasn't been determined if it attacked anyone.
The cause of the man's injuries has not been definitely determined. Police, however, say hospital medics found the wounds to his chest were more consistent with an animal attack than injuries from a knife.
The man remains in critical condition at a hospital. His name was not immediately released.
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9:50 a.m.
Authorities in Alaska's largest city say a severely injured man initially believed to have been stabbed was more likely mauled by a bear.
Anchorage police say the man collapsed after stumbling out of the woods Wednesday night in a greenbelt area officials say is a corridor for wildlife including black and brown bears, and moose.
Police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said Thursday that hospital medics found the wounds to the man's chest were more consistent with an animal attack rather than injuries from a knife.
The man remains in critical condition at the hospital.
State fish and game biologists are inspecting the scene.
Castro says police at the scene saw what looked like the marks of something being dragged.
The man's name was not immediately released.
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