Canadian teenage folk singer Taylor Mitchell killed by coyotes

Taylor Mitchell, 19, a rising star of the Canadian music scene, died in Halifax hospital yesterday after the normally shy animals attacked her as she hiked one of the most scenic trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Walkers who heard her frantic screams alerted park rangers, who shot one of the coyotes.

The Toronto-born singer was airlifted to Halifax hospital but died of her injuries, authorities said.

Bridgit Leger, a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said that 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.

The two coyotes were "extremely aggressive" when rangers arrived at the scene of the attack, she added.

"Coyotes are normally afraid of humans. This is a very irregular occurrence," Ms Leger said.