Canadian woman killed by coyotes

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — A Canadian woman has died from injuries sustained when she was attacked by two coyotes while hiking in eastern Canada.

Police say she was airlifted to a Halifax hospital in critical condition and died Wednesday morning.

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.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Brigdit Leger says other hikers heard her screams for help 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.

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.