Home / Lifestyle / Alaskan Survivor: Bear Attacks, Wilderness, and a New Book
Alaskan Survivor: Bear Attacks, Wilderness, and a New Book
15 Feb
Summary
- Aikens survived a brutal grizzly bear attack in 2007.
- She was abandoned by her mother at 12 in the Alaskan wilderness.
- Aikens runs a remote scientific and hunting encampment in Alaska.
Susan Aikens, now 62, has documented her astonishing life in the Alaskan wilderness in a new book. Abandoned by her mother at age 12, she survived for two years in the remote Arctic Circle. Her resilience was tested further when a grizzly bear attack in 2007 nearly claimed her life, leaving her with severe injuries.
Aikens runs a remote scientific and hunting encampment in Alaska, a place she was drawn back to after trying life elsewhere. She recalls building her own log cabin and enduring harsh conditions, including a lack of running water during winter months. Her unique life was highlighted on the National Geographic show 'Life Below Zero' from 2013 to 2023.
Her past includes a tumultuous relationship with her mother, whom she forgave before her passing in July 2025. After three marriages, Aikens now lives alone, finding solace in solitude. Despite lingering physical effects from the bear attack, including a fused neck, she continues to embrace life with curiosity and a desire to experience all it offers.
