Teen, bear go one-on-one

An Alaska wilderness outing for emotionally troubled youths turned ugly when a 15-year-old boy got into a fistfight with a 400-pound bear.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was solo camping near Wrangell last month when he awoke and saw a brown bear next to his tent.

Food left on the ground may have attracted the bear, said Steve Prysunka, director of the Crossings Wilderness Expeditions for Youth program.

The boy was attacked when he startled the bear while sneaking out of his tent. The bear bit his arm, the boy punched the bruin in the face and fled, but the animal chased and bit his back, Prysunka says.

The boy grabbed an air horn and blew it in the bear’s face, alerting nearby counselors. Someone fired a flare at the bear’s paws, the animal fled and was later killed by authorities. The boy was treated and released at a local hospital.

“He could have been killed,” Prysunka says, “but we believe very strongly the solo experience gives the kids an opportunity to discuss issues with therapists without distractions. We’ve tried to mitigate risks by keeping the kids close, but there are risks any time you are in a wilderness setting.”

-- Charles Duhigg