A coroner has identified a 39-year-old woman killed in a bear attack Friday night as Laney Malavolta of Durango.
Sparse snippets of Malavolta’s life could be gathered from social media. Her father’s girlfriend, Kim Strain, asked for prayers and support for the family.
“She will be sorely missed by many,” Strain said in a social media post Monday. “We love you Laney.” Her father was identified as Steve Malavolta.
The post has since been removed.
Justin Rangel, who lived at the same address, according to state records, could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
A neighbor said it was “tough” and declined to comment out of respect for the family. Other neighbors could not be reached.
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith released the identity and autopsy results Tuesday.
Malavolta was found dead Friday off County Road 203 near Trimble Lane, north of Durango. During an examination Saturday night, a state wildlife pathologist found human remains inside the stomachs of two black bears found nearby.
Both the necropsy results from the bears and the autopsy results confirmed the bears caused Malavolta’s death, Smith said.
“They grabbed her by the neck,” she said. “It was extensive damage.”
The official cause of death was a perforating injury to the neck. It was ruled an accident by Mike Arnall, who conducted the autopsy, and Smith, who assisted.
Malavolta was apparently on a walk with her dogs, according to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, which spoke with her boyfriend. The boyfriend told the Sheriff’s Office he returned home about 8:30 p.m. and found the two dogs outside their home, but Malavolta was missing. He searched for her and found her body about 9:30 p.m. He then called 911 to report the incident.
Wildlife officers suspected a bear attack based on the trauma and obvious signs of consumption on the body and an abundance of bear scat and hair at the scene.
Three bears, the sow (female bear) and her two yearlings, were discovered near the woman’s body after a search by CPW wildlife officers, which included a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services trained tracking dogs.
No human remains were found in the stomach of a second yearling euthanized with the other two.
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.
“Of course, it’s a frightening and a tragic incident,” said Rebecca Ferrell, CPW spokesperson. “We don’t want this to stop people from going out and doing the things you love. In Colorado, we share space with wildlife, so just take the small recommended precautions to be bear aware. If you do that, odds are an encounter is it’s never going to be something you’ll have to deal with.”
smullane@durangoherald.com
If you encounter a bear
Incidents in which bears kill humans are rare. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported three fatalities caused by bears between 1960 and 2020. Laney Malavolta’s death is the fourth fatality.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers tips should someone encounter a bear.
If you surprise a bear on a trail, you should:
Stand still, stay calm and let the bear identify you and leave. Talk in a normal tone of voice. Be sure the bear has an escape route.
Never run or climb a tree.
If you see cubs, their mother is usually close by. Leave the area immediately.
If the bear doesn’t leave:
A bear standing up is just trying to identify what you are by getting a better look and smell.
Wave your arms slowly overhead and talk calmly. If the bear huffs, pops it jaws or stomps a paw, it wants you to give it space.
Step off the trail to the downhill side, keep looking at the bear and slowly back away until the bear is out of sight.
If the bear approaches:
A bear knowingly approaching a person could be a food-conditioned bear looking for a handout or, very rarely, an aggressive bear. Stand your ground. Yell or throw small rocks in the direction of the bear.
Get out your bear spray and use it if/when the bear is about 40 feet away.
If you’re attacked, don’t play dead. Fight back with anything available. People have successfully defended themselves with pen knives, trekking poles, and even bare hands, according to CPW.
Herald Staff Report
