An Alaskan court services officer was viciously attacked by a muskox outside his home and died from his injuries Tuesday afternoon.
Curtis Worland, 36, had been trying to scare off a few muskoxen from a dog kennel by his house near Nome, Alaska, according to officials. Both Worland, who served as a court services officer for 13 years, and one of the assaulting animals were reportedly declared dead at the scene.
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In a press release, Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell said that “Curtis proudly wore the Court Services Officer uniform and honorably served the people of Alaska for 13 years. He was a proud member of the Nome community and a dedicated member of the Alaska law enforcement family.”
We are deeply saddened to report that one of our own, Court Services Officer Curtis Worland, was tragically killed during a muskox attack near Nome earlier today. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/ANn2FVCiKF
— Alaska State Troopers (@akstatetrooper) December 14, 2022
“I hope that Alaskans will keep Curtis’ family, friends, loved ones, and the Alaska State Troopers in your thoughts as we process this tragic loss for our state. He will be sorely missed by the DPS family,” he added.
Officials did not disclose the exact number of muskoxen Worland sought to scare off from the kennel. The Alaska State Troopers are collaborating with the Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to examine the attack.
Muskoxen are hoofed mammals that can weigh up to 800 pounds and live in Greenland, as well as sections of Alaska and other parts of the world. They have been known to attack dogs in the past and have made more frequent appearances around Nome’s city limits, the Nome Nugget reported.
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“CSO Worland proudly wore the Court Services Officer uniform and honorably served the people of Alaska for 13 years. He was a proud member of the Nome community and a dedicated member of the Alaska law enforcement family, and he will be sorely missed,” the Alaska State Troopers wrote in a tribute on Facebook.
