Soldier killed and another injured in bear attack in Alaska – ABC17NEWS

By Paradise Afshar, CNN

A soldier in Alaska died Tuesday after being attacked by a bear who wildlife officers say might have been making an attempt to guard her cubs.

After he was mauled, Workers Sgt. Seth Michael Plant was transported to the Military base hospital the place he was pronounced lifeless, Military Alaska stated in a information launch Thursday.

One other soldier was additionally injured throughout the assault, the discharge stated, and was handled for minor accidents and launched.

Plant was an infantryman from the third Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and was working in a coaching space at Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson (JBER) when the assault passed off, based on the discharge.

“Workers Sgt. Plant was an integral a part of our group,” stated Lt. Col. David J. Nelson, commander of the third Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment in an announcement. “He was a constructive and devoted chief who introduced pleasure and vitality to the paratroopers who served with him.”

Plant, 30, was the recipient of a number of awards and decorations, together with the Military Commendation Medal, Military Achievement Medal, Military Good Conduct Medal, Nationwide Protection Service Medal and Afghanistan Marketing campaign Medal.

“He all the time had a smile on his face, he all the time went above and past what was requested of him, and he served as an inspiration to all who had the privilege to know him,” Nelson stated. “His loss is deeply felt inside our group, and we provide our honest condolences to family and friends.”

Previous to becoming a member of the active-duty Military in January 2015, Plant, who’s from Saint Augustine, Florida, served within the reserves and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, based on the discharge. He arrived at JBER in July 2021.

Seemingly a defensive assault by a feminine bear

The realm the place Plant was attacked is in a distant a part of the army base, based on a launch from the Alaska Division of Fish and Recreation. Division staff have been referred to as to the realm after the assault occurred and located a bear den close by with two brown bear cubs in it.

“From every thing we all know thus far, primarily based on the scene investigation and data from different responding businesses, this seems to be a defensive assault by a feminine bear defending her cubs,” stated Cyndi Wardlow, Southcentral Regional Supervisor for the division within the information launch. “We are attempting to be taught every thing we are able to about what occurred to extend public security round wildlife in Alaska.”

All three species of North American bears dwell in Alaska, based on the ADFG web site, though hair collected from the scene suggests it was a brown bear, the division stated. Whereas the animals are likely to “keep away from or ignore individuals,” they are often harmful, the division says.

An grownup bear was seen on sport cameras returning to the den and leaving with the cubs, the division stated.

“A bear that’s thought-about a public security menace or concerned in a deadly assault could also be killed by the Division,” the ADFG launch stated.

Military Legal Investigation Division personnel are working with the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the Alaska Division of Fish and Recreation, and different businesses to research the assault.

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