Taylor Mitchell: 19 Year Old Woman Attacked & Killed By 2 Coyotes

by Jessica Tucker | October 28, 2009 at 08:46 am
2149 views | 42 Recommendations | 21 comments

Looking through the news during a cup of coffee this morning, I came across this news story of a coyote attack. I really dislike sharing bad news, however this story is one that should be shared.  CBC News reported this morning that Taylor Mitchell, a 19 year old singer from Toronto was viciously attacked by two coyotes while visiting a national park in Cape Breton.  Unfortunately she later passed away in hospital.  Rather stange behaviour for a coyote, even two!  Please view the full news story in the following link:  http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2009/10/28/ns-coyote-attack-died.html  To Taylor's family and friends, my prayers are with you. 

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2
Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

This behaviour by coytes is indeed strange and rare. 

What it tells me though, is that humans have encroached on their environment to a point that these canines were no longer afraid of a full grown human. 

Coyotes in my neighborhood can.t get away fast enough when they see a human.  Having a malamute with me helps.


2
hidflect

malamute... I'm not gonna look that up and assume it's a kind of tenor saxophone... only made of plastic?

1
caj1

Alaskan malamute...a dog breed!

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Jessica Tucker

I think you hit the nail right on the head there, Cowpoke! 

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

Thanks JT. 

1
Hugh Askew

Never seen a coyote than didn't run or slink away around a human. rabid? starving? certainly not normal.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

rabid and starving could do it.  They don.t have that problem around here they can always find mice and gophers, large magpies and crows.

3
anarkissed

Coyotes are capable of very bold behaviour if they're hungry enough.  I've heard of them attacking farm children here in Saskatchewan.  They're not small dogs so two together could certainly overpower a woman who isn't used to being cool headed and fighting back in a crisis.  It must have been horribly frightening.  I find coyotes very beautiful but we're going to have to figure out how to share our planet with them if we insist on moving out to the country!

0
Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

I agree with you anarkissed.  They have gone after children before  and that is well documented.  I have also heard that in some parts of the country they have started to move in packs, especially if they.re hungry. 

Where this incident occurred, however, I wouldn.t think hunger was a problem yet.  I think it was familarity with humans and the shy coyotes were no  longer afraid of them.

2
Chastity

I live in Ohio and coyotes have no fear of humans , in recent months attacks on cats and dogs are on the news everyday . My friend lives on a farm and one approached her dog and they were making sounds and shining lights to try and scare it off ,it eventually backed up but very slowly and never took its eyes off her dog!!! I think its sad for them but its scary and something has to be done .

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Jessica Tucker

That is how it was when I was a child, it is a very sad story... for both sides of the story.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

I have coyotes in my yard several times a year.  I actually had one settle in my Alaskan Malamutes doghouse.  That was a bad mistake on his or her part.  My malamute found him in the doghouse and I heard him as angry as I ever saw him.  First I thought it was a stray dog.  I pullled my malamute away and that poor guy couldn.t get away fast enough. 

1
Hugh Askew

The state still pays a bounty on them here. They are around, but shy - very shy.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

I think there is a bounty here as well

1
LCoastMom

The fires in Ventura Co. CA last month have caused a problem for the coyotes. Once it cools off at night a little more, their food supply (what is left of it) will be even more scarce. 

People are going to find coyotes in their yards, garage and other unacceptable places. People who don't keep their animals in the house, are going to find they go missing and aren't going to be coming back. These animals are bold, they will grab a smaller animal right off the porch as the owner stands by helpless.

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Jessica Tucker

I hadn't thought about that. There has been so many large fires over the last few summers in many regions of our continent and the world that would have displaced all sorts of wildlife...  

1
AmandaRose

{edited}

2
marianmo

i am deeply sadden by your response amandarose... perhaps you are the spoiled one, no one deserves to die unless they take the life of another person...i question your morality. you thought processes and humanity...may no one ever make such a comment about you

2
Jessica Tucker

As the author of this post, I am was very disappointed to find this comment attached to my work. AmandaRose, this comment was completely unnecessary and totally heartless!  I am a firm believer in freedom of speech but have some respect! 

In respect of Taylor's family and friends (who I do not know), I am working on having this filthy comment removed.  

0
Amy Judd

Woah, what a terrible thing to say - Your comment has been edited 'AmandaRose'

0
Jessica Tucker

Thank you, Amy! 

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke
First Flagged at 9:33 AM, Oct 28, 2009 by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke
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