Canadian folk singer killed by coyotes in national park

This sad, and strange, news comes from the CBC News:

A 19-year-old folk singer from Toronto has died after being attacked by two coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Taylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow, who went by the stage name Taylor Mitchell, died overnight at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. She had been on tour in the Maritimes.

Mitchell was hiking on the Skyline Trail when she was attacked Tuesday afternoon. She was taken to the hospital in Cheticamp, then airlifted to Halifax in critical condition.

Park officials said Mitchell was walking the trail alone. They said other hikers managed to scare off the coyotes and call 911.

Full story

via Backpacker

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Comments

GaryPalmer
Senior Member
Joined: 10/12/08
Posts: 667
October 29, 2009 at 11:49 a.m. (EDT)

Dont think I have ever heard of Coyotes attacking anyone before. Very interesting.

Tho in many places where the wolves have been eradicated, the coyote populations have taken over the niche and become the top predator.

Explorer Robby
Senior Member
Joined: 4/20/08
Posts: 101
October 29, 2009 at 10:56 p.m. (EDT)

I was kinda shocked to hear this. I have seen coyotes in quite large packs in MS before, big enough to be dangerous, but I have never heard of them attacking people.

Gary is quite correct. At one time wolves were wide spread, but with their eradication from much of the country, coyotes did fill the void. It is not surprising if after along time on top they begin to act like wolves, after all, they are from the same animal group.

vman
New Member
Joined: 10/29/09
Posts: 2
October 30, 2009 at 12:41 a.m. (EDT)

Out in Alberta (Lethbridge) coyotes are increasingly coming into Lethbridge and have gone after dogs. The suburbs around Minneapolis are having some issues with aggressive coyotes too. Last winter was a long hard winter and if you've been out in the bush you've no doubt noticed that far fewer birds and other animal offspring survived the winter. Hence, I bet the coyotes are getting desperately hungry.

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