Almost two years ago, schoolteacher Candice Berner was found dead alongside the snowy road to Chignik Lake. There were animal tracks around her body, and at the time investigators determined that the 32-year-old Pennsylvanian had been mauled by wolves.

Now the Alaska Department of Fish and Game completed its DNA analysis of the evidence and confirmed that the state’s initial conclusion was correct. According to a report released today, Berner was attacked by up to four wolves during her evening jog. The wolves were not rabid or malnourished, and they were not used to being around humans.  

State biologist Lem Butler says that the March 2010 attack was unusual. It’s the only fatal wolf attack recorded in Alaska history.

“This isn’t something that people normally think of when they jog, particularly when they jog in Alaska in the winter,” says Butler. “It certainly wasn’t common, and it wasn’t necessarily expected either.”

While attacks like this are unusual, Butler says that there are a number of things that humans can do to avoid attacks, like traveling in groups.

“You want to use any tools you have available to you,” says Butler. If you have pepper spray or a firearm and you know how to use them, that would certainly be appropriate. And if not, rocks or sticks.”

There have been no similar instances of wolf aggression in the Chignik Lake area since the attack. One of the wolves that was believed to be involved was put down by the state shortly after Berner’s death.