Now, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed the area while it conducts searches for the bear, and officials are advising everyone in the vicinity to brush up on their bear safety and carry bear spray, despite the rarity of bear attacks in the Chugach mountains.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A brown bear attacked a woman Tuesday afternoon as she hiked on a popular trail in Alaska's Chugach Mountains, and officials are still looking for the animal, state police said.

The woman was hiking the Basher Trail in Alaska's Chugach Mountains when the bear attacked and mauled her, the Anchorage Fire Department said.