A wolf bit the head of a 16-year old boy camper near Lake Winnibigoshish in north-central Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources reported on Monday.
The so-called "rare attack" luckily left the boy alive. The same day, a wolf with a jaw deformity was caught and killed within the area. Regional manager of DNR's enforcement Tom Provost told reporters that they are waiting for the rabies test results of the said animal.
This wolf attack incident is the first recorder by the department in Minnesota. There were two fatal attack recorded but they were in northern Canada and Alaska.
Provost guessed that it might be the jaw deformity of the wolf which pushed it to attack the camper. Its deformed jaw made it difficult for it to hunt for prey so it resorted to searching for food near the campground. Other campers also reported that they have also encountered a wolf similar to the description of teen's attacker.
"It was trapped in an area where it was likely habituated to humans and the ability to grab easy food," Provost said to Star Tribune. "Not normal for wolf behavior."
The wolf attack incident happened outside his tent at the West Winnie Campground around 4 a.m. Saturday. He didn't notice the animal until it bit him on the back of his head. He fought back by kicking the wolf until it ran away. His family and friends drove him immediately to a Bemidji hospital for puncture wounds on both sides of his face and a 4-inch cut.
The DNR officials saw a wolf matching the description of the wolf that attacked the camper on Monday. They sought help from trappers and managed to catch the wolf. The carcass was brought to University of Minnesota for a necropsy and DNA test to verify if it was the wolf that attacked the teen.
Provost said that the jaws of the wolf were misaligned and lacks one canine tooth.
The campground activities were immediately suspended by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice.
