Alaska man found dead after apparent bear mauling

A man who was clearing a trail behind his property in south-central Alaska was found dead with wounds consistent with a bear attack, Alaska state troopers said Thursday.

Troopers said they received a report late Wednesday that aHope man who set out to clear a trail less than two kilometresbehind his property had not returned home, and a dog that had gone with him came back alone.

Family and friends found the man's body in the area where he had been working, troopers said.

Clay Adam, deputy chief with Cooper Landing Emergency Services, said local authorities received a call around 9:50 p.m. When they arrived at the small, remote cabin, theylearned the incident had happened about a 45-minute to one-hour hike up the side of a mountain behind the man's residence.

Given the darkness, there were safety concerns with trying to reach the area, Adam said.

People who had gone to the site earlier and returned were told not to go back or touch anything, and that troopers would be in charge of the scene, he said.

Cyndi Wardlow, a regional supervisor with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said that, based on preliminary information, officials believe the animal involved was a brown bear.

She said efforts were underway to locate the bear and kill it.