Bear maulings are rare in the Anchorage area, and details about what happened could help officials understand what provoked the bear.

A hiker near Anchorage, Alaska was able to survive a mauling from a brown bear this week. The woman, who has yet to be identified, said that "they were mauled by a bear and needed help as soon as possible," according to the Anchorage Fire Department.

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