A woman was hospitalized after being attacked by a bear during a morning jog in Alaska, according to officials.

The encounter happened in the city of Kenai when the 36-year-old left her home just before 6 a.m. on Aug. 26, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

The animal attacked the woman near her driveway, the agency said. Speaking to KTUU, Alaska Wildlife Trooper David Lorring said that she was "dragged approximately 100 yards down the road."

She was found by her neighbor and transported to a hospital in Anchorage with "serious injuries," authorities said. Lorring said the woman had wounds on her face and scalp, the news outlet reported.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety told USA TODAY on Friday, Aug. 29, that the victim remains in critical condition. Her identity was not made public.

Authorities tell residents to be on 'high alert'

Kenai Police and other agencies, including Alaska Wildlife Troopers and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, attempted to track the bear down on foot and with a drone.

According to KTUU and the Anchorage Daily News, officials suspect the animal involved in the surprise attack may be a brown bear.

Alaska State Troopers urged residents to remain on "on high alert," adding, "Please remain vigilant when outdoors, supervise children and pets closely, and secure attractants such as trash, pet food, and bird feeders."

As of Aug. 26, the bear has not been found, according to the Kenai Police Department.

Alaska is home to several bear species

The incident comes after a brown bear mauled a woman hiking a trail in the Chugach Mountains in late July.

Alaska is home to three types of bears − black, brown and polar − according to Alaska Fish and Game. Here's what the department recommends if you encounter a bear:

  • Never approach or crowd bears; respect their “personal space.”
  • Make yourself appear as large as possible.
  • Don't surprise a bear: Make noise, sing or talk loudly. Always let bears know you are there.
  • Don’t feed bears.
  • Never run: You can’t outrun a bear, and the animals will see you as fleeing prey.
  • In case of an attack, play dead or fight back.
  • If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.
  • Always carry bear deterrents, such as firearms and bear spray. However, these two should only be used as a last resort and not as an alternative to common-sense approaches to bear encounters.
  • If a wild animal poses an immediate threat to personal safety, call 911. Else report all non-emergency wildlife encounters to Alaska Fish and Game here.

Contributing: Saman Shafiq

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Woman seriously injured after bear attacked her during morning jog in Alaska

Reporting by Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect