Chignik Lake

by Ashton Goodell Wednesday, March 17, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Fish and Game ended its search Wednesday for wolves that attacked and killed a jogger in Chignik Lake, but some people in the village say it's too early to call it off. Biologists did a final sweep of the area Wednesday afternoon looking for the animals. Monday night Fish and Game killed two wolves believed to be part of the attack. Some in the village say they are still scared and they worry that the wolves will come back into the village.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, March 12, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked if they agreed with plans to kill a wolf pack near Chignik Lake blamed for the death of a teacher. Here is the official question and results of the 764 people who voted. Do you agree with plans to kill a wolf pack near Chignik Lake blamed for the death of a teacher? Yes 68 % No 32 %  

by Jackie Bartz Saturday, March 13, 2010 CHIGNIK LAKE, Alaska -- Bad weather continued Saturday in the village of Chignik Lake, further delaying state plans to kill a wolf pack blamed for the death of a local teacher. Chignik Lake residents woke up to even more snow on the ground and stronger winds than Friday. Biologists say that even if they are able to bring in a helicopter as planned, they won't hunt the wolves because of the low visibility. They say it would be nearly impossible to track them, and they wouldn't be able to shoot them from the air. In the meantime, a village resident reports that he believes the wolf pack that killed 32-year-old Candice Berner was in his yard in town Saturday morning.

A report released by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Tuesday, which investigated the March 2010 wolf attack that killed a school teacher near the village of Chignik Lake on the Alaska Peninsula, found no evidence that the animals were habituated to humans or were defending food. “It does appear that the wolves were healthy -- not predisposed to aggressive behavior through most of the normal scenarios people think of when they think of wolves being aggressive,” said Lem Butler, Fish and Game Wildlife Biologist.

by Jackie Bartz Sunday, March 13, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Chignik Lake residents are trying to pick up the pieces after state troopers say a wolf pack killed a teacher in the area last week, but bad weather is still delaying plans to kill the pack. While the residents of Chignik Lake live side-by-side with wildlife, they're now doing everything they can to keep people safe. A chilly wind whipped through the Southwest Alaska village's empty streets and abandoned playground Saturday -- but it's not the howling wind that's keeping residents inside.

Channel 2’s Jackie Bartz revisits this year’s increased wolf activity in rural Alaska, after wolves near Chignik Lake killed teacher Candice Berner in March and state officials shot several wolves near Port Heiden earlier this month.

by Channel 2 New staff Tuesday, March 9, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska State Troopers are investigating a death in the village of Chignik Lake, but neither troopers nor the Department of Fish and Game could confirm multiple reports from people in the area that the deceased was killed by wolves. However, Bristol Bay Borough Mayor Dan O'Hara says a group of young men who came across the body believed wolves were responsible for the death. The men were coming back to the village after gathering clams, and a wolf also stalked one of them, O'Hara said.

by Jackie Bartz and Ashton Goodell Monday, March 15, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Fish and Game biologists tracked down and killed two of the wolves they believe killed a woman last week. A break in the weather let Fish and Game biologists fly out Monday to track the wolves for the first time. Officials say it's highly likely that the two wolves they shot and killed Monday evening are part of the wolf pack that attacked and killed a special education teacher a week ago.  Candice Berner, 32, was killed just outside of Chignik Lake last Monday, but bad weather had delayed the hunt for the wolves.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says Wednesday that it will take immediate action to remove wolves in the vicinity of Port Heiden that have been killing pets and approaching people in frequent visits. “Due to the threats to public safety, the state has decided to take action and remove wolves in the vicinity as soon as possible,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner Joseph Masters said in a statement. “We have been developing a coordinated effort for the community.

by Rebecca Palsha Thursday, March 11, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A memorial service was held Thursday night for an itinerant teacher most likely killed by wolves. An autopsy conducted Thursday shows that wolves likely killed 32-year-old Candice Berner in the southwest Alaska village of Chignik Lake, according to the Alaska State Troopers. Village residents found Berner's body a short distance from town on Monday. Multiple injuries due to animal mauling caused Berner's death, trooper Col. Audie Holloway said, referencing a report from the state medical examiner's office.

A report released by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Tuesday, which investigated the March 2010 wolf attack that killed a school teacher near the village of Chignik Lake on the Alaska Peninsula, found no evidence that the animals were habituated to humans or were defending food. “It does appear that the wolves were healthy -- not predisposed to aggressive behavior through most of the normal scenarios people think of when they think of wolves being aggressive,” said Lem Butler, Fish and Game Wildlife Biologist.

Channel 2’s Jackie Bartz revisits this year’s increased wolf activity in rural Alaska, after wolves near Chignik Lake killed teacher Candice Berner in March and state officials shot several wolves near Port Heiden earlier this month.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says Wednesday that it will take immediate action to remove wolves in the vicinity of Port Heiden that have been killing pets and approaching people in frequent visits. “Due to the threats to public safety, the state has decided to take action and remove wolves in the vicinity as soon as possible,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner Joseph Masters said in a statement. “We have been developing a coordinated effort for the community.

by Lori Tipton Thursday, March 18, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Test results are in for wolves suspected of killing a teacher in Chignik Lake last week, and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services says the two wolves shot and killed Monday did not have rabies. Department of Fish and Game biologists shot the wolves Monday after state officials determined their pack likely attacked Candice Berner, 32, on March 8 while she was on a jog. The wolves were flown from the village to Fairbanks to be studied by a state wildlife veterinarian and by microbiologists at the state virology laboratory.

by Ashton Goodell Wednesday, March 17, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Fish and Game ended its search Wednesday for wolves that attacked and killed a jogger in Chignik Lake, but some people in the village say it's too early to call it off. Biologists did a final sweep of the area Wednesday afternoon looking for the animals. Monday night Fish and Game killed two wolves believed to be part of the attack. Some in the village say they are still scared and they worry that the wolves will come back into the village.

by Jackie Bartz and Ashton Goodell Monday, March 15, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Fish and Game biologists tracked down and killed two of the wolves they believe killed a woman last week. A break in the weather let Fish and Game biologists fly out Monday to track the wolves for the first time. Officials say it's highly likely that the two wolves they shot and killed Monday evening are part of the wolf pack that attacked and killed a special education teacher a week ago.  Candice Berner, 32, was killed just outside of Chignik Lake last Monday, but bad weather had delayed the hunt for the wolves.

by Jackie Bartz Sunday, March 13, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Chignik Lake residents are trying to pick up the pieces after state troopers say a wolf pack killed a teacher in the area last week, but bad weather is still delaying plans to kill the pack. While the residents of Chignik Lake live side-by-side with wildlife, they're now doing everything they can to keep people safe. A chilly wind whipped through the Southwest Alaska village's empty streets and abandoned playground Saturday -- but it's not the howling wind that's keeping residents inside.

by Channel 2 News staff Friday, March 12, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked if they agreed with plans to kill a wolf pack near Chignik Lake blamed for the death of a teacher. Here is the official question and results of the 764 people who voted. Do you agree with plans to kill a wolf pack near Chignik Lake blamed for the death of a teacher? Yes 68 % No 32 %  

by Jackie Bartz Saturday, March 13, 2010 CHIGNIK LAKE, Alaska -- Bad weather continued Saturday in the village of Chignik Lake, further delaying state plans to kill a wolf pack blamed for the death of a local teacher. Chignik Lake residents woke up to even more snow on the ground and stronger winds than Friday. Biologists say that even if they are able to bring in a helicopter as planned, they won't hunt the wolves because of the low visibility. They say it would be nearly impossible to track them, and they wouldn't be able to shoot them from the air. In the meantime, a village resident reports that he believes the wolf pack that killed 32-year-old Candice Berner was in his yard in town Saturday morning.

by Christine Kim and Rebecca Palsha Wednesday, March 10, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Candice Berner was a young woman with a passion for the outdoors, running, and the children who lived in villages along the Alaska Peninsula, her friends and colleagues said Wednesday. Berner, an itinerant teacher in southwest Alaska, was found dead Monday near a gravel road in Chignik Lake. Villagers say they believe a wolf attacked her. As several communities wait to confirm what exactly caused her death, they're sure of one thing: Berner spent her life touching many little lives.