Posted on 10/28/2009 12:33:10 PM PDT by Borges
Taylor Mitchell, a 19-year-old Toronto singer whose debut album was released in March, has died in a Nova Scotia hospital after being mauled by coyotes in a Cape Breton park.
Mitchell was hiking Tuesday on the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park when she was attacked by two coyotes. Another hiker, who was walking nearby, heard her cries for help and called 911.
Officers arrived about 3:15 p.m., and one of the coyotes fled into the bush. The other coyote was shot and limped away.
Mitchell was airlifted to a hospital in Halifax, where she died early Wednesday.
"I spoke to her mother late last night and at one point we thought, she was stable," said manager Lisa Weitz, "but she had lost too much blood."
The singer and songwriter, who loved the outdoors, had started her East Coast tour on Oct. 23 in New Brunswick and was scheduled to perform in Sydney tonight. "She had a small break and (she) wanted to go hiking," said Weitz.
Mitchell, whose MySpace photograph has her standing in the woods with a guitar in one hand, released her debut album this March.
A website review describes her album as "a collection of mostly original songs that showcases a range of styles, from folk to country-rock to pop."
Born and raised in Toronto, Mitchell studied music from an early age and graduated in 2008 from Etobicoke School of the Arts.
She was very excited to be touring the Maritimes, said Weitz. "She was just exhilarated to be on the road and performing."
Friends and family are in shock, said Weitz.
In Nova Scotia, Don Anderson, a biologist with that province's Natural Resources Department, said coyote attacks in the area are uncommon, but they do happen from time to time.
An Ontario girl was bitten on the same trail several years ago, Anderson said.
Ethel Merry, owner of the nearby Cheticamp Motel, said the incident was unfortunate but she wasn't surprised to hear about it. She said the motel is about 10 kilometres from the entrance of the park but she often sees coyotes.
"My home is a 100 feet from (the motel) but if it's dark outside, I don't walk alone," she said. "I've seen too many coyotes."
Merry said the attack hasn't fazed locals or park visitors. "Skyline Trail is one of the most beautiful and famous trails in the park. This isn't stopping any hikers," she said.
The park is on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island.
Canadian Social healthcare. ‘Nuf said.
When seconds count on a trail in a National Park, the Rangers (with the guns) are just hours away.
“In some parts of the US when they are getting plenty of food they are very large.”
I saw one in NC years ago that was so large my first thought was Wolf.
One thing we hunters have always said: coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, and other predators lose their fear of man when we stop hunting them. I have walked up on packs of coyotes in the Texas Panhandle while hunting. They knew to run away, even though I was alone. They have a healthy fear of man around the state where people hunt. In or near cities where people are not allowed to shoot, not so much. I feel for the poor girl and her family.
What a callow comment.
I agree with you. I’ve seen groups of 3 or four moving together at dawn and dusk in the thinly populated desert NW of Phoenix.
thinking the same thing- wouldn’t they have done some blood transfusions if she had lost that much blood???
The coyotes we had in the Texas Panhanle were wolf-sized. I shot one at a dead run at 250 yards with a .308. Took three shots from my .44 mag to finish him at close range. They have a fear of man where they are hunted.
Damn, I was hoping it would be Celine Whatsername!
We have coyotes by my barn in Howell. The last barn I was at had a donkey who kept watch over everything. You knew something was up when he let loose with a loud hee haw. When I get my own barn I am getting a donkey & a few peacocks. We have foxes in my neighborhood. I don’t doubt coyotes will be appearing next. I keep a close eye on my little Shih tzu dogs due to the red hawks.
Alan Thicke?
Sounds like Zer0 and the Chicago mob in DC.
Everything I ever read about them indicated western coyotes were small and solitary.
But I guess there are differences in bahaviors between different populations. The more intelligent an animal is, the harder to predict the behavior.
Look at people.
But I do know the eastern critter is part wolf, a lot bigger, a lot bolder and more often hunts in packs. Its more like a small grey wolf.
“She was in the hospital all that time and then died from blood loss?”
It’s Canada, remember? She was probably on a waiting list...
Unfortunately you, like I live in New Jersey and we have a loon for a governor with no relief in sight. In a civilized state you could take them out more easily.
I’d suggest getting a dog - a BIG dog, like a tibetan Mastiff or a similar large herd guarding dog.
Where is Howell?
I think there is a hunting season for them now in Jersey. I’d take up hunting them there if I could.
Good one. How about this one too?
“And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal” Genesis 9:5 NIV
I’m not sure I can see the point in defending geese from coyotes. It’s not like there is shortage of geese and five seconds after you leave they are going to get the geese anyway.
Where I live, it is legal to shoot and kill coyotes if they are on your property, even if you are in city limits. Coyote hunting permits are also issued at many different times of the year.
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