Authorities in Haines, Alaska, have urged residents to exercise extreme caution near Mt. Riley Road after a brown bear mauled a local woman walking her dog on Saturday morning. The victim sustained serious injuries and was subsequently medevaced to Juneau for surgery.
What began as a routine Saturday morning dog walk along FAA Road turned into a medical emergency when a brown bear attacked Toni Smith around 6 a.m. Following the violent encounter, Smith managed to walk home with her dog and immediately called 911, setting off a swift local emergency response.
Emergency Response and Medical Evacuation to Juneau
The Haines Volunteer Fire Department received a report concerning the mauling at approximately 6:30 a.m. Fire personnel quickly transported Smith to the local medical clinic for initial treatment. Haines Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Zak Overmeyer noted in a phone call on Saturday that Smith had sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries
during the incident.
Due to the severity of her condition, medical personnel medevaced Smith to Juneau on Sunday afternoon. According to her daughter-in-law, Sherri Maust, Smith underwent surgery on Sunday evening, though doctors indicated that additional procedures may be necessary as her recovery continues.
Search Efforts and Trail Closures Across Haines
Immediately following the report, an Alaska State Wildlife Trooper and the Haines Borough Police Department launched a search for the animal on Saturday. Nixle alerts issued on Saturday morning warned the community about an aggressive bear, possibly accompanied by a cub, near Mt. Riley Road.
Public safety officials subsequently advised residents to exercise extreme caution
throughout the area, specifically highlighting the Battery Point and Mt. Riley Trails. Additionally, authorities closed the Lily Lake trailhead, located near the dump, until further notice. As of Monday afternoon, neither officials nor search teams had provided any public update regarding whether the bear had been successfully located.
Community Support and Online Fundraising
In the wake of the attack, family members expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of local concern. Sherri Maust shared a Facebook message with local public safety reporting noting that the family wanted to thank the community for the supportive and loving messages that rolled in following the incident.
To assist with mounting medical expenses and recovery costs, Maust established an online fundraiser. As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign had successfully raised more than $14,000 from community donors.