Gavin Haakenson, an Alaska moose hunter, described his remarkable survival of a bear attack on September 2, attributing his minimal injuries to a blackout that occurred during the encounter. Haakenson and his hunting partner, Ethan Yeager, were returning to their truck near Soldotna after a hunting trip when a brown bear ambushed Haakenson.
"I heard a noise to my right and looked over and there was a brown bear charging at me at full speed," Haakenson told Outdoor Life. He estimated the bear was about 10 feet away when he first saw it, describing its growl as terrifying. The bear struck Haakenson in the shoulder, knocking him down.
In the moments after the initial impact, Haakenson attempted to reach for his rifle. "That's when my blackout started," he said. "I'm glad I blacked out and I don't remember the bear being on top of me."
Yeager intervened by firing his weapon twice and shouting at the bear, successfully scaring it off. Haakenson stated that the entire incident lasted only about 10 seconds.
Despite the close call, Haakenson sustained only a bruised shoulder and a torn coat, with no broken bones. He did not require stitches for the abrasion on his arm. However, he has been advised to undergo six weeks of physical therapy. His hunting jacket was shredded, and the brand has offered to replace his gear.
Following the report of the attack, officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service searched the area but were unable to locate the bear. Alaska is home to an estimated 30,000 brown bears.