Mother Mauled and Dragged 100 Yards by Bear in Attack Near Driveway

A morning jog turned into a nightmare for a 36-year-old mother of three after a brutal bear attack near her home early Tuesday, leaving her fighting for her life as authorities race to track down the predator.

Ariean Fabrizio Colton had only just stepped outside for her daily run when tragedy struck.

“She barely made it 50 yards from her house,” Alaska Wildlife Trooper David Lorring told KTUU. “The bear came out of another property, attacked her, and dragged her roughly 100 yards down the road onto a neighbor’s land.”

The attack happened around 5:45 a.m. in Kenai, about 150 miles southwest of Anchorage. It was still dark when one of Colton’s neighbors heard disturbing noises in the woods.

“He heard this barking, huffing sound — the sound of a bear,” Lorring explained. “At first, he thought the bear had gotten a dog or maybe was rummaging nearby. But then he kept hearing it.”

Daylight revealed the horrifying truth. The neighbor stepped outside and found Colton bloodied and badly injured on his property.

Colton, a nurse and recent transplant to Alaska, suffered severe wounds and remains hospitalized after being airlifted to a trauma center more than two hours away. Her family revealed on a GoFundMe page that she faces “extensive surgeries and a long hospital stay.”

“Ariean is a loving wife, mother of three, and an adventurous spirit,” her family said. “She is strong and resilient, but she has a long road to recovery.”

Authorities believe the attacker is a brown bear and have launched an intensive manhunt using drones and ground teams. So far, the animal hasn’t been located.

“This is a highly populated area with homes and kids nearby,” Lorring warned. “We need to find this bear before it strikes again.”

State troopers and wildlife officers have been patrolling the area nonstop, urging residents to remain indoors and secure trash, pet food, and other attractants.

Bear attacks are rare but not unheard of in Alaska, where wilderness meets residential neighborhoods. Officials say August and September are particularly dangerous as bears bulk up before winter hibernation.

Just last year, Alaska recorded its highest number of bear-human encounters in over a decade.

“This is the reality of living here,” Lorring said. “We share this land with bears. But when one gets this aggressive, it’s a serious threat.”