Coyote Maul Victim was Budding Music Star

A promising young musician who was mauled by two coyotes as she was hiking alone in a national park in eastern Canada, was a singer-songwriter from Toronto who was touring to promote her new album on the East Coast.

The victim, Taylor Mitchell, 19, died Wednesday of her injuries, authorities said.

Mitchell was hiking solo 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.

Mitchell was an up-and-coming folk and country musician who was nominated for a 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award in the Young Performer of the Year category.

"Words can't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet, compassionate, vibrant, and phenomenally talented young woman," Lisa Weitz, Mitchell's manager, said in an e-mail. "She just turned 19 two months ago, and was so excited about the future."

After graduating from high school in 2008, Mitchell decided against going to college and opted to write music and sing full-time, the Toronto Star reports. She released her debut album, For Your Consideration, in March and began her first major tour a few weeks ago.

"She had just gotten her (driver's) licence and her first set of wheels to take her on the road to the Maritimes," Weitz told the newspaper.

On Saturday, Mitchell performed at Broadway Cafe in Sussex, New Brunswick, where "she rocked and gave a fabulous show," owner Randi Griffin told the newspaper. "She was charming and engaging."

If music was Mitchell's first love, the outdoors and horses were next on the list, according to the newspaper.

"She loved the woods, being out with nature," said Weitz, who first met Mitchell a year ago and worked with her on the CD release concert.

Mitchells' family set up a memorial fund in her name on her Web site.

Coyotes, which also are known as prairie wolves, are found from Central America to the United States and Canada. Wildlife biologist Bob Bancroft said coyote attacks are extremely rare because the animals are usually shy.

Bancroft, a retired biologist with Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, said it's possible the coyotes thought Mitchell was a deer or other prey.

"It's very unusual and is not likely to be repeated," Bancroft said. "We shouldn't assume that coyotes are suddenly going to become the big bad wolf."

Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Brigdit Leger said other hikers heard Mitchell's screams for help on Tuesday and called emergency police dispatchers.

Police who were in the area reached the scene quickly and shot one of the animals, apparently wounding it. But the wounded animal and a companion coyote managed to get away.

Paul Maynard of Emergency Health Services said Mitchell already was in critical condition when paramedics arrived on the scene and had multiple bite wounds over her entire body.

"She was losing a considerable amount of blood from the wounds," he said.

An official with Parks Canada said they blocked the entrance to the trail where Mitchell was attacked and were trying to find the animals to determine what prompted such an unusual attack.

"There's been some reports of aggressive animals, so it's not unknown," said Helene Robichaud, the park's superintendent. "But we certainly never have had anything so dramatic and tragic."