Coyotes Kill Woman in Canadian Park

[Songdog]

Not all of them are 'naturally shy'. Many coyotes live in cities and have become adjusted to being in close human contact, especially since many humans try to feed them or leave out food without thinking it will attract coyotes. There are even recent studies that indicate that coyotes are becoming less and less fearful of humans.

Coyotes have attacked people before, this just happens to be the first lethal case. Do not say "never", there are multiple reported cases of non-rabid coyotes attack humans, and even hunting small children.

Animals don't always need a reason to attack. They are wild animals. Sometimes incidents just happen.

[Starwars11]

Not all of them are 'naturally shy'. Many coyotes live in cities and have become adjusted to being in close human contact, especially since many humans try to feed them or leave out food without thinking it will attract coyotes. There are even recent studies that indicate that coyotes are becoming less and less fearful of humans.

Apparently, though, these are coyotes who live in parks. The parks are not cities. They are "rural" enclosed spaces, where tourists sometimes go for hikes. Unless these coyotes were "caught" in cities and then put into the park..

Anyway, I said I never heard of a coyote attacking a human, I didn't say it never happened.

[Faithwolf]

Oh my,like everyone else i have'nt heard coyotes kill a human.
I feel so sorry for her and she was justing starting a good life.
I still like coyotes though but sometimes i get mad because the parks
are not fully protected:like the time i went camping and we saw a huge
bear like the one in WQ ...scary...

[Wolfie10]

I live in Nova Scotia now, It was quite a shock, alot of people felt for the incident. Lucky a hatred against the Coyotes does not seem to appear. This does not scare me off the Coyotes that live abouts' and dosn't seem to do so for my friends, if anything- by now. Alot of us have forgotten the incident.
Even I forgot till I spotted the topic, it was sad that that she died- but alot of people found out about her music, just a shame she wasn't there to recive all the attention.

[Razorfang]

sad story, poor woman.

I agree that this is a terrible story, however, I disagree with the people that are saying that she is the one that was wrong. We cannot read the minds of animals, nor can we foresee if they will attack someone or not, coyote attacks on humans are not very common but there has always been some reports. its just that this is the first deadly case.

Also, we cannot say that the coyotes were wrong. just as I said, no one knows why they did attack her.
bad timing, bad place I say.

[Nightskydapple]

I've never heard about coyotes attacking people before. Its a bit of a sad situation I've heard this on the radio last time.

[LupinzPack]

a little after this happened I heard somewhere (and im not really sure if its true!) that the coyotes were not pure coyote but a mix of coyote and Domestic Dog. Yes DOG.
Again im not sure if its true but they said that if they were, that would explain why they attacked her, because of the dog in them, they had some dog characteristics and were not as fearfull of a human as pure coyotes would be.
These mixed characteristics are what may have brought on the attack, but it may not be true!

[Aloka]

Two coyotes cannot kill a man ( or woman) I think, this only a bad jok.

[jaguartail]

TORONTO (Oct. 28) -- Two coyotes attacked a promising young musician as she was hiking alone in a national park in eastern Canada, and authorities said she died Wednesday of her injuries.
The victim was identified as Taylor Mitchell, 19, a singer-songwriter from Toronto who was touring her new album on the East Coast.
She was hiking solo on a trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia on Tuesday when the attack occurred. She was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition and died Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Coyotes, which also are known as prairie wolves, are found from Central America to the United States and Canada.
Wildlife biologist Bob Bancroft said coyote attacks are extremely rare because the animals are usually shy.
Bancroft, a retired biologist with Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, said it's possible the coyotes thought Mitchell was a deer or other prey.
"It's very unusual and is not likely to be repeated," Bancroft said. "We shouldn't assume that coyotes are suddenly going to become the big bad wolf."
Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Brigdit Leger said other hikers heard Mitchell's screams for help on Tuesday and called emergency police dispatchers.
Police who were in the area reached the scene quickly and shot one of the animals, apparently wounding it. But the wounded animal and a companion coyote managed to get away.
Paul Maynard of Emergency Health Services said Mitchell already was in critical condition when paramedics arrived on the scene and had multiple bite wounds over her entire body.
"She was losing a considerable amount of blood from the wounds," he said.
An official with Parks Canada said they blocked the entrance to the trail where Mitchell was attacked and were trying to find the animals to determine what prompted such an unusual attack.
"There's been some reports of aggressive animals, so it's not unknown," said Helene Robichaud, the park's superintendent. "But we certainly never have had anything so dramatic and tragic."
Mitchell was an up-and-coming folk and country musician who was nominated for a 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award in the Young Performer of the Year category.
"Words can't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet, compassionate, vibrant, and phenomenally talented young woman," Lisa Weitz, Mitchell's manager, said in an e-mail. "She just turned 19 two months ago, and was so excited about the future."

http://news.aol.com/article/coyotes-kil ... -in/741093

Coyote attacks on humans are not very common, and this is the first lethal attack.

How terrible!!!

[_Shadow-wolf_]

I never heard of coyote attacks on people before!

[The Black Wolf moon]

Oh no! That's horrible!D:> Darn, we have coyotes here.

[Resi]

oh I never imagined that a coyote can kill a person but ok in wolfquest you're a wolf and not a human so you're stronger as a coyote ^^
but I didn't hear about it until now

[shadowwolf966]

Hum.... sounds a little fishy to me... they probally had rabies or something.

[soloreclipse]

That article is very sad. . . and very strange as well. They didn't have rabies? Hmmm. I've never heard an attack from coyotes on people, before. . . Well, I hope her family is doing okay. And anyway, that is very strange.