Alaska State Troopers have just determined that, Candice Berner, was killed by animal predation. If you prefer official terms, you could say, she died from injuries sustained in an animal attack (via ANI Alaska News).
According to the Anchorage Daily News, the young teacher was jogging on a rural road while listening to her iPod when the wolves attacked. Snowmobilers found a blood trail and drag marks that led to the body later that evening on March 8th. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Candice’s family and friends during this tragic event.
Timber Wolf Photo - Public Domain From Wikipedia
What seems odd to me about this event is the way that some news reports have been trying to ‘play down’ the wolves’ involvement in this attack. Take the headline from MSNBC, Alaska teacher found dead; wolves to blame? Then, the second line uses the wording “...appears to be attacked…” as if the ‘obvious’ (like wolf tracks surrounding the body) is not an appropriate clue. When I originally Googled the topic, it sure appeared that many news flashes were downgrading the fact that nature sometimes has a dark side. More often than admitted, nature’s top predators don’t share the ‘lets all live at peace’ propaganda that some animal right’s groups spew.
A headline from the Guardian in the UK states this: Autopsy – Animal fatally mauled teacher in Alaska
Is there an elephant in the room?
It’s not like there were moose, bear, or poodle tracks around the body.
Some articles I read were quick to point out that there have been very few documented wolf attacks in North America. What a relief! NOT really.
Actually, this phrase is a slight, innocent half-truth. To have a documented wolf attack,
- The wolf has to be killed, examined and found to be healthy.
- It must be proven that the wolf was never kept in captivity in its entire life.
- There must be eyewitnesses to the attack.
- The person must die from their wounds (bites are generally not considered attacks according to the biologists).
To this point, here is an extensive list of ‘non-documented’ wolf attacks that don’t fit into the ‘official classification’ system I just listed. It was collected by, T.R. Mader, of the Abundant Wildlife Society of North America.
Am I trying to invoke a revolt against the wolf and begin its total annihilation as a species?
No.
Let’s just respect and admit the fact that wild animals, especially predators like the wolf, will attack and kill humans. This risk is also elevated when predator populations are left unchecked in areas where humans and wildlife share space.
Shawn – Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Did you get a chance to read the articles I linked to in my post – both articles said quite conclusively that the death was caused by animal mauling.
Specifically, the Guardian article says,
“Wolves, bears, foxes and other wildlife have disturbed bodies in the Alaska wilderness, but Holloway said the autopsy ruled out other causes that may have killed Berner. Additional tests COULD tie the death to wolves, Holloway said.”
Unless a pack of bears came out of hibernation – I doubt moose/deer/foxes are capable of the ferocity in this attack.
Anyway – I appreciate your comments. Please visit again
I have read the available articles on this subject, the evidence which suggests a wolf attack (and keep in mind it may have been a legit wolf attack) say attacked by an animal and wolf tracks are found in the area. I have not found anything suggesting a coroner saying a wolf or bear, or anything attacked her, just that wolves were all around the body at some time during or after.
If I were the first person to find a dead body and my footprints are the only prints found around the body does that make me the murderer? No it doesnt. So like the situation in Canada in 2005 I wont assume one or the other did it. The situation in Canada in 2005 the coroner said the guy was killed by a bear, the evidence at the scene with experts examining what happened on site said the guy was killed by a bear and dragged for too long a distance for wolves to do it. The wolves then scavenged the body after death, but the local village said that they wanted the wolves blamed, not a bear, so it was official by popular vote not by truth that wolves did it. I know that situation well. By the way aside from these 2 possible situations there have been NO documented deaths on humans by wolf attack in North Americas history, aside from cases involving rabid sick and dieing wolves. The attacks were situations where wolves were conditioned by humans feeding them before someone was attacked.
I hate to see habitat destroyed. Yet, when I built my house (or most human houses) – that’s just what we did. I get the idea that ‘they’ were here first but humans and wildlife will continue to ‘wrestle’ for space. The ‘elephant in the room’ is which species gets priority on space – and a debate that has burned for decades. I think science-based conservation hunting is an effective way to help ease tensions – although, I guess, I am the one holding the gun.
Excellent point. But, that said, we have to respect that we are moving into habitat that really does not belong to us! I know that my brother jogs up in northern Ontario, in the fly-in mine where he works. He worries about bears, for the most part.
I visited a local B & B (post later!) where they had a regular bear visitor from the time it was a cub until it grew. It didn’t bother anyone on their 62 acres, and they didn’t feed it (leaving garbage out). All got along well.