Shelley Alexander holds a coyote skull. Her study reveals substantial levels of human food and garbage exist in the coyote diet.
Posted on 10/28/2009 3:22:18 PM PDT by JoeProBono
A PROMISING young Canadian musician has been attacked and killed by coyotes while on a tour promoting her new album. Taylor Mitchell, 19, was considered a rising star of the folk music scene, having just earned a Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination.
She was hiking alone on the Syline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park when a pair of coyotes attacked her.
Tourists rushed to her aid when they heard her screams and found Mitchell bleeding heavily from mulitple wounds "all over her body", according to The Canadian Press. "She was losing a considerable amount of blood from her wounds," paramedic Paul Maynard told TCP. One of the animals was later shot by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but the other got away.
Park officials said it was highly unusual for coyotes to be involved in such an aggressive attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Shelley Alexander holds a coyote skull. Her study reveals substantial levels of human food and garbage exist in the coyote diet.
There is a reason American ancestors knocked off the coyotes. I lived in a subruban area where they were very agressive with pets and people. When they live around people and nothing bad happens to them, they begin to think they are the boss. Just like an untrained aggressive dog.
Never met a coyote that didn’t run when it saw me.
Don't count on that. I live in the near foothills in northern CA, about 25 miles out of Sacramento. It is a rural area, lightly developed (lots of large mandarin groves and christmas tree farms, with five acre lots in the developed areas).
This spring, my neighbor had to bring down a coyote stalking one of his animals because it didn't run when he confronted it.
At various times of the year we are inundated with them, and it's interesting to see them try to lure our dogs. Mine is a 60 pounder and my neighbor's is about 20 pounds larger. They don't scare easily.
Two coyotes attacked our cocker spaniel when she wandered off a trail where we (hubby and I) were hiking. She was terrified. It was definitely two COYOTES and it was very frightening. We had bear spray, but the coyotes fled upon seeing us. We were in the nether-regions of a state park at the time. A single coyote took down a fawn in a neighbors yards recently as well, viewed by our neighbor.
I carry a 9mm most everwhere. Yes, a .44 would be better, but the little 9mm fits my camera bag.
I don't work for anyone to earn a living, if that's what you mean. I play. I'm just blessed enough that I get payed to play.
And thanks very much for the welcome!
I looked at her press shots, and judging by her size compared to her guitar, she wasn’t very big. I’ve never heard of an adult being killed by coyotes before, but there are a lot of things that happen that I haven’t heard of.
Animals kill things to eat and live. Nature’s beautiful, but there are a lot of bones under the beauty.
Sad. RIP.
Surprising story about the horse getting gored too. Makes you have more appreciation for Bull fighters!
I stay with Piper outside at night, never know what might come through the yard.
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My brother’s FiL’s brother (he later bought 25,000 acres up midstate after they sold the ranch for big bucks/acre) was on the horse when it was gored
After that - they used Jeeps and dogs to round up that one herd
I dodged some nasty big Brahma’s moving them around at the Belle Glade auction - buyers need to see them well - a whip is not enough - you need to be fast - like in bullring or rodeo
Prayers up!
Sounds like he had a close call from being gored himself.
My twins were in 4-H and raised sheep. It always amazed me to see the young girls, who raised steer, and the steer seemed so nice and gentle during the auction!
I know a lot about your experiences with horses, cattle, etc.
I agree it had to be a mix breed of wolf or wild dog pack. I was a rancher in Mo years ago. When I first encountered them they would let you drive by them and not move. Once they got a calf or two and we started shooting them they disappeared. Full breed are small. They are tough too. My counterpart shot the front leg off of one at the shoulder and a few months later we saw him with the pack. They are survivors and I don’t think they would normally attack something her size unless they were extremely hungry or they were hybrids. We had more trouble with wild dog packs. They are kind of like cockroaches You won’t stop them. I am now in NC and 10 years ago they weren’t here. Now they are!
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Like people - cattle can vary in temperament
My brother’s championship Brahma bull was a killer - after he was not being trained, walked, shown
A Brahma steer just a bit younger - was rough at first - soon thought he was a pet or a horse
The most dangerous time was to turn your back on 3 feedlot Brahma steers after pumping some water in the tank
It smart to think of all animals as gators
I fought a big bull gator and won - but I could have lost too
Never be surprised by what they might do next
I sure do not miss finding cougar tracks following ours in the morning
“Never met a coyote that didn’t run when it saw me.”
I have, both in Arizona and California.
[Like people - cattle can vary in temperament]
When my daughters were in 4-H, the kids were still actually raising and caring for the animals themselves, every day. Buying a calf and hand raising it would make it much more tame.
As you say, any animal can be mean if they have a mind to.
Far be it from me to question to media, but this doesn't sound like coyotes. Of course if you could hike with a handgun in Canada, it wouldn't matter.
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You have to be mucho firm training young cattle
Regular feeding times and a schedule are key
Skip training for a bit and they can get independent
Show cattle are kind of like circus elephants
They can ruin your day or your life
Much like people in Chicago or in DC
Not only are they here in NC, they are doing quite well.
My dad has a friend who is a state wildlife biologist. He says that they are in all 100 counties!
I could be wrong, but it seems likely that a lot of the coyotes are mixed breed with domestic dogs.
When we lived in the very rural Ozarks, all the dogs had to be fed inside, there was NO feed outside to attract the coyotes, but they were certainly around. Our dogs were always neutered, but most of our neighbors didn’t do that...lots of dogs were dropped off in the country to make their own way, plus hunting dogs are out and around...
Those mixed breed ones can be large, have bad temperaments, run in packs, and in general cause trouble.
I’m sure similar mixes occur in suburbs, maybe even cities. Coyotes seem to be opportunists, go where the food is, even downtown at night for restaurant castoff...
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