The post-mortem carried out on Candice Berner recorded "multiple injuries due to animal mauling" as the cause of death.

Her body was found off the road around a mile outside the small village of Chignik Bay, situated on the Alaska Peninsula.

Whilst the particular animal which killed the 32-year-old cannot be confirmed, Alaska State Troopers are certain that wolves were behind the attack.

Colonel Audie Holloway said: "There's no other carnivores in that area that are out and active.

"There were wolf tracks all around the body, and drag marks associated with those tracks."

He added: "If we're able to actually prove which animal, it will be through some kind of DNA analysis or through some expert that can maybe testify or explain how they know it's a wolf."

The tracks surrounding the body suggest that up to four animals were involved in the assault on the special needs teacher.

Since the attack, the community of 105 people in Chignik Bay have been exercising extreme caution, with children being accompanied to school and armed patrols on snowmobiles protecting the village.

If it is confirmed that Ms Berner was killed by wolves, it would be the first recorded case in Alaska.