The town’s residents report wolves have killed at least two cats and four dogs. The most recent was this weekend.
Port Heiden residents say they spot wolves in and around town almost daily.
“You can't, well at least you're not advised, to go out and about without, you know, some kind of protection,” said Nicole Stover, a preschool teacher.
“You won't see a person outside even walking in this town now so, it's gotten that bad,” James Christensen said.
Stover she says parents won't let their kids go outside and play.
“I'm really scared for my dog, because there's been a couple of dogs here that have been killed by wolves. My dog and I usually try to run inside the gym now,” she said.
“Apparently one followed a young person down the street,” said Bruce Dale with Fish and Game.
Since August, Port Heiden residents have shot six wolves, but now they're asking for help from the state.
“Local folks feel like there are too many of them to get the situation under control,” Dale said.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sent a biologist Monday to interview residents and conduct an aerial survey to get a handle on how serious the problem is
“This isn't a good situation. With these aggressive wolves, and the frequency the village people are encountering them is fairly high,” Dale said.
Port Heiden sits about 50 miles away from another small village all too familiar with problematic wolf packs.
“I think they might be a little bit scared you know. The whole incident that you mentioned is definitely in everyone’s mind,” Stover said.
In March, Chignik Lake residents discovered the body of Candice Berner, a special education teacher. An autopsy revealed wolves killed her while she was running just outside of town.
Her death was the first reported fatal wolf attack in the U.S. history in more than 50 years.
Port Heiden residents say they're doing what they can to make sure someone in their village isn't next.
The Board of Game approved an intensive management plan for wolf packs in the area.
The idea is to kill wolves to increase the dwindling caribou herds in the area.
Port Heiden residents say caribou live right outside of town, and they suspect that's why the wolves are so close.
Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com
