The University of Alaska professor who was mauled by a bear near Haines a couple weeks ago is now in fair condition at Providence Hospital in Anchorage.
On April 18, 35-year-old Forest Wagner was attacked by a brown bear sow with at least one cub. He was leading nine students and two teaching assistants in a mountaineering course near Mt. Emmerich. No one else was injured.
Wagner was medevaced to Anchorage after a student used a satellite phone to call 911. The students were evacuated from the area by helicopter.
Fish and Game Biologist Stephanie Sell plans to talk to Wagner and the students when they are ready to find out more about the incident. Sell says she has not been able to talk to anyone from the group yet.
Over the past couple weeks, Wagner’s condition has improved from critical to fair. He was moved from the Intensive Care Unit to the Orthopedic Unit at Providence last week.
An online fundraising page for Wagner’s medical expenses has raised more than $24,000 in a dozen days.