Bear attacks man at Russian River Campground, Alaska

7/30/06

A brown bear attacked a Chicago tourist as he was sleeping in his tent on the Russian River Campground this morning. At around 5 a.m. the bear collapsed his tent and bit him in the shoulder. He received minor injuries, but in light of the attack are taking no chances.

The Russian and Kenai River access area will be closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.

"The last two weeks we've had three incidents that we know of where bears have come in to the Russian River Campground and found coolers out, left outside after people have gone to bed, pulled the coolers out and got food out of the coolers," said Rebecca Talbott, public information officer with the Chugach National Forest.

Officials are enforcing a $125 citation for leaving coolers and packs out at unattended campsites.