Maybe a first

[Egon]

CBC News - Nova Scotia - Coyotes kill Toronto singer in Cape Breton

Hiker killed by coyotes in Cape Breton.

[2manyrocks]

That's a very sad story that a 19 year old would be killed by coyotes while out hiking alone. Sadder still that the authorities are recommending that hikers carry a knife. A stout walking stick would be better than trying to fend off coyotes with a knife.

[DocHeb]

Park Ranger: "Bancroft advises hikers to be alert and leave their iPods at home. He also suggests carrying a knife."

Great response for a "gun control" country, but it does sound a bit lamer and certainly less protective than the typical American comment would be: "...suggests carry a .45"

[dave1949]

Very sad story Egon. I am not sure what good a .45 would do if you were attacked from behind unawares, you easily shoot yourself in a panic situation. Or a knife. Better to have them along for sure, but not foolproof. Trying to picture such an attack and how the average person would respond. What part of a human body would a coyote be most likely to go for?
Dave.

[J35]

Originally Posted by dave1949

Very sad story Egon. I am not sure what good a .45 would do if you were attacked from behind unawares, you easily shoot yourself in a panic situation. Or a knife. Better to have them along for sure, but not foolproof. Trying to picture such an attack and how the average person would respond. What part of a human body would a coyote be most likely to go for?
Dave.

The legs and then the head throat area, just like they kill livestock and large game.

Its a crying shame something like this has to happen. A person should be prepared, laws be damned.

Have fun

[NSBound]

A wildlife expert on TV tonight was speculating that these were possibly young coyotes, inexperienced with people and also with stalking and killing prey generally. He further speculated that if the victim showed signs of fear or being "prey", that would inspire the coyotes even more, as it would any predator. They have killed one of the 2 coyotes and the trail and whole area is closed until they get the other one. He also said there are a couple of diseases that could cause such unusual, erratic behaviour - but not rabies. They want to examine them both when they're both dispatched.

[dave1949]

Originally Posted by J35

The legs and then the head throat area, just like they kill livestock and large game.

Its a crying shame something like this has to happen. A person should be prepared, laws be damned.

Have fun

The victim was probably not thinking clearly or she would not have been hiking alone. 19 yr old young ladies need to be more aware of the dangers from beast and man, sad as that is.
Dave.

[Scooby074]

Aweful thing this,. Even the experts are confused. There has never been a similar incident in our history.

I think i watched the same news as Ian. They suspect that they were young or perhaps parasite infected coyotes. They also suspect that the young lady may have ran, causing the coyotes to chase her as pray.

Usually they only attack smaller animals thats why this is so unusual.

Ive noticed though that their numbers are increasing, as im seeming more than ive ever seen before. Perhaps we need to put the bounty back on them.

[Bird]

I read that story earlier today and was very much surprised. We've had lots of coyotes around, but they always shied away from humans. I can't recall hearing of a coyote (or coyotes) killing anyone before.

[Taylortractornut]

Back in the 80s we had a drought here and coyote attacks were almost nightly down south. I was a little kid and remebered all the pics on the news every few nights. Folks hunted them back down to a safe number and they are relativley unheard of now. I cant imagine 2 yotes taking a person down. but they are strong, I had a pet coyote I caught in a burrow at work. She was about dead and we nursed her back to health. just playing she ould really clamp down with her jaw. They are very intelegent to, Ive seen them distract a pyrenese and the other one raid the chickens at a friends barn.