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A group of mountain bike riders pass by the area of Far North Bicentennial Park where a teenage girl was mauled by a bear while competing in an all-night bicycle race. The Gasline Trail is visible in the distance beyond the riders, and the South Fork of Campbell Creek is in the foreground. Those trails were later closed by the city.

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BILL ROTH / Anchorage Daily News

A group of mountain bike riders pass by the area of Far North Bicentennial Park where a teenage girl was mauled by a bear while competing in an all-night bicycle race. The Gasline Trail is visible in the distance beyond the riders, and the South Fork of Campbell Creek is in the foreground. Those trails were later closed by the city.

Victim's family pleads for privacy

By GEORGE BRYSON | gbryson@adn.com

Published: July 1st, 2008 11:59 AM
Last Modified: July 1st, 2008 12:05 PM

With national TV news programs pressuring the family for interviews, the parents of 15-year-old bear-mauling victim Petra Davis of Anchorage today asked the media to "honor our request for privacy until Petra can tell her story in her own words."

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Petra Davis, 15, was hurt badly by the bear but is recovering.

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"She is still being treated in the critical care unit, but she is expected to make a full recovery," wrote Mark and Darcy Davis, addressing the public in a written press statement released today by Providence Alaska Medical Center.

A student at South High School, Davis was attacked by a bear early Sunday while competing in an all-night mountain-bike race in Far North Bicentennial Park.

The trail where the attack occurred - a dirt path named Rover's Run near the intersection of Upper Gasline Trail and Cambell Creek - has since been closed to the public.

In an earlier message to friends and members of the local biking community, the Davises detailed the nature of their daughter's wounds.

"She suffered lacerations and punctures to her neck, right shoulder, torso, buttocks and right thigh," they wrote. "Despite the severity, she is doing very well."

Davis underwent surgery Sunday evening to repair her carotid artery and was due to undergo additional operations on her trachea and possibly her esophagus on Monday, the family added. No other surgeries were anticipated.

Find George Bryson online at adn.com/contact/gbryson or call 257-4318.