Toronto musician dies after coyote attack in Cape Breton

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Toronto musician dies after coyote attack in Cape Breton

Mary Vallis, National Post

Published: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Taylor Mitchell, 19, a singer-songwriter from Toronto, was attacked by coyotes in Cape Breton and has died in hospital Oct. 28, 2008.

Taylor Mitchell, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Toronto, died this morning after she was attacked by two coyotes while hiking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park yesterday.

"[The victim] was airlifted to the QEII hospital in Halifax, where she died of her injuries early this morning," Sgt. Bridgit Leger of the RCMP said in an interview.

Officers with the RCMP detachment in Cheticamp, N.S., responded to a 911 call placed around 3:15 p.m. yesterday. When they arrived on Skyline Trail, a popular hiking route in the park, they found two coyotes attacking the young hiker.

The coyotes continued to act aggressively after officers arrived. An officer shot one of the animals; it hobbled away and its body has not been recovered, Sgt. Leger said. The other coyote fled into the park.

Police have not yet confirmed the victim's identity, but Ms. Mitchell's publicist confirmed an email to media that it was her.

Ms. Mitchell's MySpace and Facebook pages indicate she was on tour in the Maritimes on her "Atlantic Winds and Sea Shanties" tour. Earlier this month she was nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Awards' Young Performer of the Year.

According to her website, she was 18 years old and a recent graduate of the Etobicoke School of the Arts, where she majored in musical theatre.

One of the singer's last shows was at the Broadway Cafe in Sussex, N.B., on Oct. 24. She played an acoustic set to a crowd of two dozen.

"I'm shocked," Randi Griffin, the cafe's owner, said this morning. "She was great."

Ms. Mitchell - who was scheduled to play in Margaretsville, N.S., on Oct.. 30 - is believed to have been hiking alone. Police are now in the process of contacting the victim's family. The 911 call was placed by another hiker who stumbled upon the attack while it was in progress.

Reports say she suffered bite wounds all over her body.

Parks staff are now searching for the second coyote, which will be destroyed if it is found, said Germaine LaMoine, a spokesman for the Cape Breton field unit for Parks Canada.

"The trail has been closed and it is secure," Ms. LaMoine said. "We're very concerned about public safety. That's foremost on our minds. We are keeping it closed until that second animal has been located and disposed of."

Ms. LaMoine said the attack in the park are not common. Tests will be conducted on the coyotes' carcasses if they are recovered.

Seven kilometres long, Skyline Trail, is popular with hikers for its spectacular ocean views and whale-watching opportunities.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.htm...3#ixzz0VGDdtiML

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Wow, that's terrible. And odd too. Coyotes normally don't attack adults. It's usually something smaller than they are. I wonder if they had rabies?

[Danno 1,228]

Such a sad loss of life, I'm sure the animal rights crowd will be dismayed to learn one coyote was shot.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It is very unusual behaviour. I wonder if they had rabies as well. How sad for the girl and her family.

[trillium13 84]

Damn.

[scandal 951]

Etobicoke. Brings back memories. We lived in Rexdale - the northern part of Etobicoke, for about 4 years.

Sad about the girl.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Yeah, I mean, they must have been pretty darn vicious. I'd like to think I can fight off 2 coyotes if they attacked me. Snap their necks and all.. but, maybe she is just small. Very sad.

DON'T GO OFF BY YOURSELF!

[Mags 112]

I'm sure the animal rights crowd will be dismayed to learn one coyote was shot.

I doubt that. Chances are that if they have attacked a human once they'll do so again.

Very sad.

[Nagishkaw 510]

After all, the coyote is a trickster. Very sad story.

[almaty 19]

Yeah, I mean, they must have been pretty darn vicious. I'd like to think I can fight off 2 coyotes if they attacked me. Snap their necks and all.. but, maybe she is just small. Very sad.

DON'T GO OFF BY YOURSELF!

lol..they tear your nuts off and you scream like a little ####### tough guy

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Yeah, I mean, they must have been pretty darn vicious. I'd like to think I can fight off 2 coyotes if they attacked me. Snap their necks and all.. but, maybe she is just small. Very sad.

DON'T GO OFF BY YOURSELF!

lol..they tear your nuts off and you scream like a little ####### tough guy

And he wouldn't see them sneak up on him because he would be wearing dark glasses in the forest.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Yeah, I mean, they must have been pretty darn vicious. I'd like to think I can fight off 2 coyotes if they attacked me. Snap their necks and all.. but, maybe she is just small. Very sad.

DON'T GO OFF BY YOURSELF!

lol..they tear your nuts off and you scream like a little ####### tough guy

And he wouldn't see them sneak up on him because he would be wearing dark glasses in the forest.

Ok ok.... Heee heee.

The glasses are photo-shopped in. I don't wear them all the time.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Yeah, I mean, they must have been pretty darn vicious. I'd like to think I can fight off 2 coyotes if they attacked me. Snap their necks and all.. but, maybe she is just small. Very sad.

DON'T GO OFF BY YOURSELF!

lol..they tear your nuts off and you scream like a little ####### tough guy

And he wouldn't see them sneak up on him because he would be wearing dark glasses in the forest.

Ok ok.... Heee heee.

The glasses are photo-shopped in. I don't wear them all the time.

Sure you do, along with a backwards baseball cap. It's part of the attitude.

[almaty 19]

lol...just saying