Coyotes kill Canada woman singer

[Don]

While out walking, I've seen two of these Critters on many occasions as close as 10 yards away, especially when there's a fog late at night. Usually when they're in pairs, best to have your guard up.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8331106.stm




Two coyotes have attacked and killed a 19-year-old folk singer in a national park in eastern Canada, officials say.

Taylor Mitchell, 19, a promising musician from Toronto, died in hospital after the animals pounced as she hiked alone in Cape Breton park, Nova Scotia.

Walkers alerted park rangers after hearing her screams. The rangers shot one coyote, but were still searching for the second.

Attacks by coyotes on humans are rare; they usually prey on deer and hares.

Bleeding heavily from multiple bite wounds, the singer-songwriter was airlifted to a Halifax hospital, but died of her injuries on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

"Coyotes are normally afraid of humans. This is a very irregular occurrence," Brigdit Leger, a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told Reuters news agency.

She said the two coyotes were "extremely aggressive" when authorities arrived at the scene.

The small wolf-like animals are found from Central America to the United States and Canada.

[SherriBerry]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat. In B.C. it's been unusual levels of bear and cougar attacks, which is why I don't crosscountry ski - too many people around here have been stalked by cougars while skiing the local trail and it's right in the city limits so I can't carry a rifle. We have a pack of coyotes in the area I can hear howling at night and at least 5 cats have gone missing in the neighbourhood in the past 8 weeks. The cougars and the coyotes are within a couple of blocks of my house and go through the woods behind me. I feel really sorry for Taylor Mitchell's family - what a horrible way to die.

By the way, I saw my first bear of the pre-hibernation season 2 hours ago! We have a huge black bear in the neighbourhood who has been making rounds house-to-house every night like a trick-or-treater about 11pm to Midnight. We were watching him make his way up the street while we called the RCMP (who called the Conservation officer) and a big dog scared him back into our yard and right under my window. If I had opened it, I could have scratched him behind the ears - he was that close! He proceeded up the neighbour's walk like he was selling cookies and then went down the bank - from now on it's a team operation to take the dog out to go to the bathroom.

[hoagiepete]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat.

Please say you aren't blaming this on the so called climate change!

[SherriBerry]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat.

Please say you aren't blaming this on the so called climate change!

No, just lousy weather. We've had poor berry yields in our region for the past couple of years and that is a primary food source for bears. When they can't get enough to eat, they come further down the mountains through the neighbourhood looking for garbage and anything else they can find. When they are hungry and desperate, they are more aggressive and more likely to attack. The worst year I can remember was around '80 (I was little) - I grew up in a little company village an hour north of here and we had a pack of grizzly bears which is unheard of!

I don't know what is going on with the coyotes in particular, but if the bears are hungry it isn't a surprise other wildlife is too and I've never seen cats disappear like this.

[hoagiepete]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat.

Please say you aren't blaming this on the so called climate change!

No, just lousy weather. We've had poor berry yields in our region for the past couple of years and that is a primary food source for bears. When they can't get enough to eat, they come further down the mountains through the neighbourhood looking for garbage and anything else they can find. When they are hungry and desperate, they are more aggressive and more likely to attack. The worst year I can remember was around '80 (I was little) - I grew up in a little company village an hour north of here and we had a pack of grizzly bears which is unheard of!

I don't know what is going on with the coyotes in particular, but if the bears are hungry it isn't a surprise other wildlife is too and I've never seen cats disappear like this.

Whew!! Thanks for the clarification.

[Rockindeano]

Goddammit Shania looks heavenly. I wouldn't know what to do with her.

[Ehwmatt]

Goddammit Shania looks heavenly. I wouldn't know what to do with her.

I can think of quite a few things, I'd need a couple days with her

[hoagiepete]

Goddammit Shania looks heavenly. I wouldn't know what to do with her.

I think I could come up with a thing or two.

[Triple S]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat. In B.C. it's been unusual levels of bear and cougar attacks, which is why I don't crosscountry ski - too many people around here have been stalked by cougars while skiing the local trail and it's right in the city limits so I can't carry a rifle. We have a pack of coyotes in the area I can hear howling at night and at least 5 cats have gone missing in the neighbourhood in the past 8 weeks. The cougars and the coyotes are within a couple of blocks of my house and go through the woods behind me. I feel really sorry for Taylor Mitchell's family - what a horrible way to die.

By the way, I saw my first bear of the pre-hibernation season 2 hours ago! We have a huge black bear in the neighbourhood who has been making rounds house-to-house every night like a trick-or-treater about 11pm to Midnight. We were watching him make his way up the street while we called the RCMP (who called the Conservation officer) and a big dog scared him back into our yard and right under my window. If I had opened it, I could have scratched him behind the ears - he was that close! He proceeded up the neighbour's walk like he was selling cookies and then went down the bank - from now on it's a team operation to take the dog out to go to the bathroom.

Do you get CHBC news there Sherri? Last week there was a story on about some people in Rutland who watched helplessly as a coyote dragged their chihauhau off. They said they'd be haunted forever by the look of terror on their dogs face and there was nothing they could do, it happened so fast. They have a 6-foot fence but are now building a full enclosure for their pets. I have a chihauhauX, and all I could picture was my little guy being dragged away, so we're doing our best to supervise our dogs on their bathroom trips too.

[SherriBerry]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat. In B.C. it's been unusual levels of bear and cougar attacks, which is why I don't crosscountry ski - too many people around here have been stalked by cougars while skiing the local trail and it's right in the city limits so I can't carry a rifle. We have a pack of coyotes in the area I can hear howling at night and at least 5 cats have gone missing in the neighbourhood in the past 8 weeks. The cougars and the coyotes are within a couple of blocks of my house and go through the woods behind me. I feel really sorry for Taylor Mitchell's family - what a horrible way to die.

By the way, I saw my first bear of the pre-hibernation season 2 hours ago! We have a huge black bear in the neighbourhood who has been making rounds house-to-house every night like a trick-or-treater about 11pm to Midnight. We were watching him make his way up the street while we called the RCMP (who called the Conservation officer) and a big dog scared him back into our yard and right under my window. If I had opened it, I could have scratched him behind the ears - he was that close! He proceeded up the neighbour's walk like he was selling cookies and then went down the bank - from now on it's a team operation to take the dog out to go to the bathroom.

Do you get CHBC news there Sherri? Last week there was a story on about some people in Rutland who watched helplessly as a coyote dragged their chihauhau off. They said they'd be haunted forever by the look of terror on their dogs face and there was nothing they could do, it happened so fast. They have a 6-foot fence but are now building a full enclosure for their pets. I have a chihauhauX, and all I could picture was my little guy being dragged away, so we're doing our best to supervise our dogs on their bathroom trips too.

We get CHBC (usually bad reception though), but I didn't hear that story. Do you know what part of Rutland? I know it pretty well because my grandparents and my aunt all used to live up there. One of our neighbour's cats 2 doors down was last seen in the jaws of a coyote though, poor thing. We have a little Jack Russell and we take her out in the backyard on a leash now even during the day. Jessica Simpson's little Daisy was snatched by a coyote too and if that ever happened to our dog (a very loved member of the family), I think it would be open season on coyotes. There seems to be a coyote problem everywhere this year.

Are all of your dogs Chihauhaus?

[Triple S]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat. In B.C. it's been unusual levels of bear and cougar attacks, which is why I don't crosscountry ski - too many people around here have been stalked by cougars while skiing the local trail and it's right in the city limits so I can't carry a rifle. We have a pack of coyotes in the area I can hear howling at night and at least 5 cats have gone missing in the neighbourhood in the past 8 weeks. The cougars and the coyotes are within a couple of blocks of my house and go through the woods behind me. I feel really sorry for Taylor Mitchell's family - what a horrible way to die.

By the way, I saw my first bear of the pre-hibernation season 2 hours ago! We have a huge black bear in the neighbourhood who has been making rounds house-to-house every night like a trick-or-treater about 11pm to Midnight. We were watching him make his way up the street while we called the RCMP (who called the Conservation officer) and a big dog scared him back into our yard and right under my window. If I had opened it, I could have scratched him behind the ears - he was that close! He proceeded up the neighbour's walk like he was selling cookies and then went down the bank - from now on it's a team operation to take the dog out to go to the bathroom.

Do you get CHBC news there Sherri? Last week there was a story on about some people in Rutland who watched helplessly as a coyote dragged their chihauhau off. They said they'd be haunted forever by the look of terror on their dogs face and there was nothing they could do, it happened so fast. They have a 6-foot fence but are now building a full enclosure for their pets. I have a chihauhauX, and all I could picture was my little guy being dragged away, so we're doing our best to supervise our dogs on their bathroom trips too.

We get CHBC (usually bad reception though), but I didn't hear that story. Do you know what part of Rutland? I know it pretty well because my grandparents and my aunt all used to live up there. One of our neighbour's cats 2 doors down was last seen in the jaws of a coyote though, poor thing. We have a little Jack Russell and we take her out in the backyard on a leash now even during the day. Jessica Simpson's little Daisy was snatched by a coyote too and if that ever happened to our dog (a very loved member of the family), I think it would be open season on coyotes. There seems to be a coyote problem everywhere this year.

Are all of your dogs Chihauhaus?

Hmmm - I was doing a bit of a search to find out where, can't find the exact story but I saw some forum posts and I think it was actually West Kelowna. It was a residential area but quite sparsely populated, fields and forest area just behind the home. We back on to a forested area also - I've only ever seen one coyote right behind our fence, and it took off pretty quick when I hollered at it. We actually had more of them hanging around the neighborhood we lived in Calgary because it was quite close to the river. We have a Chihauhau/Miniature Pinscher X, a Spaniel X, and a purebred Cocker who hardly every goes outside - she's 15. But the other 2 are always out there running around, and the little guy THINKS he's a full size doberman. I'm probably being paranoid but our lighting's not very good and I can't see what the hell they're barking at when they're at the back of our huge yard - and I know those coyotes (and other creatures) are around - I can quite often hear them howling at night. Just freaks me out after I saw that story. Now - if they wanted to eat the neighbors 5 cats who are always over pooping in my yard . . . well, bon appetit! (kidding - but boy, they're annoying)

[SherriBerry]

Coyotes are not usually so aggressive, but we've seen more of this the past couple of years with the climate - fewer food sources and more human settlement taking out habitat. In B.C. it's been unusual levels of bear and cougar attacks, which is why I don't crosscountry ski - too many people around here have been stalked by cougars while skiing the local trail and it's right in the city limits so I can't carry a rifle. We have a pack of coyotes in the area I can hear howling at night and at least 5 cats have gone missing in the neighbourhood in the past 8 weeks. The cougars and the coyotes are within a couple of blocks of my house and go through the woods behind me. I feel really sorry for Taylor Mitchell's family - what a horrible way to die.

By the way, I saw my first bear of the pre-hibernation season 2 hours ago! We have a huge black bear in the neighbourhood who has been making rounds house-to-house every night like a trick-or-treater about 11pm to Midnight. We were watching him make his way up the street while we called the RCMP (who called the Conservation officer) and a big dog scared him back into our yard and right under my window. If I had opened it, I could have scratched him behind the ears - he was that close! He proceeded up the neighbour's walk like he was selling cookies and then went down the bank - from now on it's a team operation to take the dog out to go to the bathroom.

Do you get CHBC news there Sherri? Last week there was a story on about some people in Rutland who watched helplessly as a coyote dragged their chihauhau off. They said they'd be haunted forever by the look of terror on their dogs face and there was nothing they could do, it happened so fast. They have a 6-foot fence but are now building a full enclosure for their pets. I have a chihauhauX, and all I could picture was my little guy being dragged away, so we're doing our best to supervise our dogs on their bathroom trips too.

We get CHBC (usually bad reception though), but I didn't hear that story. Do you know what part of Rutland? I know it pretty well because my grandparents and my aunt all used to live up there. One of our neighbour's cats 2 doors down was last seen in the jaws of a coyote though, poor thing. We have a little Jack Russell and we take her out in the backyard on a leash now even during the day. Jessica Simpson's little Daisy was snatched by a coyote too and if that ever happened to our dog (a very loved member of the family), I think it would be open season on coyotes. There seems to be a coyote problem everywhere this year.

Are all of your dogs Chihauhaus?

Hmmm - I was doing a bit of a search to find out where, can't find the exact story but I saw some forum posts and I think it was actually West Kelowna. It was a residential area but quite sparsely populated, fields and forest area just behind the home. We back on to a forested area also - I've only ever seen one coyote right behind our fence, and it took off pretty quick when I hollered at it. We actually had more of them hanging around the neighborhood we lived in Calgary because it was quite close to the river. We have a Chihauhau/Miniature Pinscher X, a Spaniel X, and a purebred Cocker who hardly every goes outside - she's 15. But the other 2 are always out there running around, and the little guy THINKS he's a full size doberman. I'm probably being paranoid but our lighting's not very good and I can't see what the hell they're barking at when they're at the back of our huge yard - and I know those coyotes (and other creatures) are around - I can quite often hear them howling at night. Just freaks me out after I saw that story. Now - if they wanted to eat the neighbors 5 cats who are always over pooping in my yard . . . well, bon appetit! (kidding - but boy, they're annoying)

The Jack Russell (and a small one at that) thinks she's a German Shepherd . Come to think of it, I haven't noticed all of the cats in our yard anymore either. Either their owners got smart after all of the missing cat posters and the coyote sighting, or well, they were the ones who got snatched by coyotes.

[Peartree12249]

I live out in the country, we have a pack of coyotes out here. My dog is medium size about 50 lbs, but I would never leave him outside at night alone. Although if they go after people's pets it's usually small dogs, but if a larger dog is tied up and can't defend itself from a pack, it could get killed. I mean if they could kill a person they could certainly take down a dog.

[SherriBerry]

I live out in the country, we have a pack of coyotes out here. My dog is medium size about 50 lbs, but I would never leave him outside at night alone. Although if they go after people's pets it's usually small dogs, but if a larger dog is tied up and can't defend itself from a pack, it could get killed. I mean if they could kill a person they could certainly take down a dog.

I don't think anyone in my area would ever leave their dog tied up either - it's just stupid. We have everything from bears and coyotes to cougars to eagles and what if the house caught fire or someone broke in? Anyone who owns a dog should have a high fence, but we take our little one out on her leash and stay with her at all times. I don't even like leaving her at home alone for any length of time, but I am an overprotective auntie!

[stevew2]

Goddammit Shania looks heavenly. I wouldn't know what to do with her.

Shit i would eat her old corn out of her oldest turds,and be thankful

[SherriBerry]

Goddammit Shania looks heavenly. I wouldn't know what to do with her.

Shit i would eat her old corn out of her oldest turds,and be thankful

And to think I almost picked Bryan Adams for my avatar