Govind Tekale
A 36-year-old mother of three stepped out for an early morning jog in Kenai, Alaska, and encountered a bear believed to be a brown bear that attacked and dragged her roughly 100 yards from her home.
When Wilderness Walks Into Town
On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Ariean Fabrizio Colton left her residence near the intersection of Chinook Drive in Kenai at approximately 5:45 a.m. The Alaska Department of Public Safety’s online dispatch reports Kenai Police were notified at 6:58 a.m. of the bear attack.
Alaska Wildlife Trooper David Lorring told KTUU that a neighbor heard noises before daylight, thought a bear might have gotten a dog, and later located a woman in the woods with substantial wounds. Lorring said the woman had made it only about 50 yards from her doorstep when the bear emerged and dragged her approximately 100 yards down the road.
Air Journey to Medical Help
Colton was medevaced to an Anchorage-area hospital. The family says they live about 2.5 hours from the hospital. The family’s GoFundMe page states: “She is stable, but has suffered severe injuries that will require extensive surgeries and a long hospital stay.”
As of August 31, 2025, the fundraising campaign has reached over US$65,573 toward a US$100,000 goal to cover medical and rehabilitation expenses.
Salmon Run Season Meets Human Paths
Alaska Department of Fish and Game projected about 4.19 million sockeye to the Kenai River in 2025, above the recent 10-year average. This abundance brings bears closer to river corridors and populated areas while feeding before hibernation.
Officials believe the animal was a brown bear based on tracks and other evidence left at the scene. Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Kenai Police Department, and Department of Fish and Game personnel have searched by foot and drone without locating the bear. The DPS dispatch confirms patrols will continue in the area.
Trail Tips From Wildlife Experts
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game advises residents to remove attractants, secure trash, and keep pet food indoors. ADF&G and National Park Service recommend carrying bear spray, making noise while traveling in bear country, avoiding earbuds, and supervising children and pets near waterways.
ADF&G estimates approximately 30,000 brown bears live across Alaska. The attack occurred near the intersection of Chinook Drive in Kenai, in an area with proximity to salmon-rich waterways.
Recovery Road Ahead
The GoFundMe page notes Colton faces extensive surgeries and a long hospital stay. The campaign describes her as a nurse and mother of three who had recently moved to the area.
Residents can find updates through the Alaska Department of Public Safety’s Daily Dispatch (incident number AK25086143) and the Kenai Police Department’s social media channels.
Bear Country Basics
- Alaska DPS Daily Dispatch reports the incident occurred near Chinook Drive
- GoFundMe states medical evacuation took place to an Anchorage-area hospital
- ADF&G projected approximately 4.19 million sockeye to the Kenai River in 2025, above the recent 10-year average
- Troopers, Kenai Police and Fish & Game personnel searched the area
- Bear safety guidance includes carrying spray and making noise while traveling
- Wildlife-human conflicts continue to be a challenge in many outdoor recreation areas
