Possible Fatal Wolf Attack in Alaska

A bold wolf pack is being blamed for killing a teacher near Chignik Lake, Alaska

UPDATE: Medical examiners confirmed that Candice Berner died form injuries sustained in an animal attack. It has been concluded that the animals most likely responsible for the attack are wolves.

Wolves just can't stay out of the news even to help their own case—and this one certainly won't help at all. Wolves are being blamed in the predatory killing of Candice Berner, a 32-year-old school teacher found Monday evening along a remote road near Chignik Lake, on Alaska's northern peninsula.

Snowmobilers noticed a pool of blood in the road surrounded by wolf and human footprints. They followed blood tracks to Berner's body, which was found buried beneath brush. Her arms and head were badly mangled, and while officials confirmed finding signs of predation on the body, they don't know whether it occurred during or after the attack, and they can't positively identify the type of animal.

Residents have complained of seeing wolf packs act bolder than usual, perhaps because of lower caribou and moose populations. After Berner's attack, wolves were reported back in the area, possibly looking to return to the body. Teams of locals headed out on snowmachines in hopes of hunting down the wolves, but they've been unsuccessful so far.

Chignik Lake has a dense population of brown bears, but wildlife officials note a bear attack would be extremely rare this early in the season. An autopsy is expected to rule today on the cause of death, but that probably won't include the type of animal, if the cause is identified as a predatory animal attack.

Wolf attacks on humans are exceedingly rare, but they court controversy wherever they roam—especially in Alaska, where BACKPACKER Contributing Editor Tracy Ross covered the controversy in 2009's "Dogs of War."

—Ted Alvarez

via Anchorage Daily News

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READERS COMMENTS

How many must die? What an uneducated comment. Wolves are a part of every eco system in the north american contenint. Two documented attacks in a hundred years. Yea strong reason to exterminate an entire species.
Posted: Aug 10, 2010 bruce

I met this young ladies mother this last weekend. She was an inspiration. She was in Carlsbad for a triathalon that Candice was training to compete in. She showed up to watch what her daugter was supposed to be competing in. She shared the story of Candices death with me, a complete stranger, and I had to fight back the tears. It has only been a few months since this tragedy has struck this family but my feelings are that they are strong and will be fine in due time. Candice wil never be forgotten, and will be missed by her mother and brothers every single day!
Posted: Jul 12, 2010 Anonymous

"Wolves can't stay out of the news to help their own case" ???, are you the same person who writes about "vicious storms" ??, I suppose that we COULD try to teach them to read, or at least try to be more aware, somehow, of their public image, after all it IS our world more than theirs, and they ought to do their part by being as neurotic as we are, right?
Posted: Jul 05, 2010 Tony

This is horrible how dear they question it. We live in northern Wisconsin and have been stalked by and chased into our home by them. Its time to do something about this problem....How many lives will they take....before something is done....
Posted: Jun 27, 2010 Anonymous

It is amazing how many wolf experts have surfaced recently because of the tragic death in Chignik? Most of these self proclaimed experts have never been in Wolf country in Alaska, never seen a wild wolf up close, and are ignorant of the wolf attacks that have occured in the 49th state during the last 10 years. Anyone who is niave enough to beleive that predators only kill and eat sick and dying animals should follow a wolf pack around for a week or do a serious internet search that document fatal wolf attacks on human beings back into the 16th century?
Posted: Mar 21, 2010 Joel D. Elrod aka Sourdough Joe

Lets get smart people, high wolf populations are good for nothing!!!!! Getting hit by an astroid, come on Joe are you kidding!!!
Posted: Mar 14, 2010 Kent

What happened to this lady is tragic. Are there feral dogs in the area or mountain lions? This will have a tragic impact on other wolf packs. I've lived in the Northern Rockies and firmly believe that living in those areas comes with certain risks. We shouldn't expect wildlife to behave like anything other than wildlife. Wolf attacks on humans are unheard of until now, so I'm skeptical.
Posted: Mar 13, 2010 takati

Wolves were eradicated for a reason at the turn of the century. Whose idea was it to bring them back?!?!?

How many people have to die before they limit the number of wolves?
Posted: Mar 13, 2010 Anonymous

Whilst this is a tragedy, it is such a rare event, I would imagine the odds are greater that you would be hit on the head by an asteroid than being killed by a wolf.
Posted: Mar 13, 2010 Joe

Here in central Idaho, we are having a problem with wolves coming into town, killing pets and stalking people. I'm really sorry for this lady and her family and do not want it to happen here.
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 TLM