HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Two coyotes attacked a Canadian woman while she was hiking in a national park in eastern Canada, and authorities said she died Wednesday of her injuries.
The victim was identified as Taylor Mitchell, 19, a singer-songwriter from Toronto.
She was hiking alone on a trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, in Nova Scotia, on Tuesday when the attack occurred. She was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition and died Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Coyotes, which are also known as prairie wolves, are found from Central American to the United States and Canada. Wildlife biologist Bob Bancroft says coyote attacks are extremely rare.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Brigdit Leger says other hikers heard Mitchell’s screams for help on Tuesday and called emergency police dispatchers.
Police who were in the area shot one of the animals, apparently wounding it. But the wounded animal and a companion coyote managed to get away.