A Colorado Parks and Wildlife incident report confirmed that bears were the only animals involved in a fatal attack on a 39-year-old Durango woman April 30.
Laney Malavolta was found dead in a wooded area north of Durango and near Trimble Lane (County Road 252). The subsequent investigation concluded that a sow and two cubs were responsible for her death, based on information gathered from the initial CPW investigation and autopsy and necropsy results.
In the weeks after Malavolta’s death, rumors grew in La Plata County that a mountain lion might have been involved in the attack.
“We are aware there are some folks that might think that,” said Travis Duncan, CPW spokesman.
But investigators found no evidence that a mountain lion was in the area, he said.
“We think why that rumor might be popping up is because the body was cached,” or partially buried in debris, Duncan said.
Mountain lions frequently cast plant life and dirt over prey to hide it, then return later. Black bears show the same behavior, although it is not as common as with mountain lions.
The cause of death was determined to be a perforated left carotid artery caused by a bear, based on Malavolta's injuries and evidence at the scene. Her injuries were not consistent with typical mountain lion attack, Duncan said.
CPW wildlife officers looked for signs of wildlife immediately after recovering Malavolta. They scanned for tracks and scat, and they used hounds to track any wildlife in the area, according to the incident report.
The hounds quickly found the three bears, then continued surveying the area. No signs of other predators, including mountain lions, were found.
The wildlife officer set up multiple game cameras and left them up for more than 24 hours after the attack. No lions returned to the area, Duncan said.
“There’s no evidence of a mountain lion being involved in the attack,” said Chris Burke, spokesman for La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. “There are mountain lions in the area, one in particular that the DOW is aware of and are trying to capture, but it wasn’t in the same vicinity of the attack.”
DNA evidence during the examination of the bears and an injury analysis confirmed the bears were involved. The injuries were not consistent with a mountain lion attack, Duncan said.
“If there were lions in the area, we’re pretty confident that the dogs would’ve found some sign of them,” he said.
CPW emphasized the importance of being bear-aware.
“We really don’t know what happened. It’s just a tragic accident,” Duncan said.
Bear attacks are considered extremely rare in Colorado. There were about 85 recorded attacks on humans between 1960 and 2020. Three of those were fatal. Malavolta’s death is the fourth fatal attack in the same time range, according to CPW records.
An experienced and knowledgeable operator in the backcountry, Malavolta’s “greatest joy” was to be outdoors, according to a statement from Malavolta’s family.
“While Laney’s physical presence was suddenly taken from this earth, all that know and love her can take comfort; Laney’s soul will live forever in her favorite place, doing her favorite thing,” the family’s statement said. “She would not have wanted it any other way.”
For those who would like to learn more about wildlife awareness, CPW has a resource page on its website.
smullane@durangoherald.com
