Campers rescued from circling coyote pack

[Peter Emberley]

CAPE DAUPHIN, Nova Scotia, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Canadian police Monday described the harrowing rescue of three campers  and a dog from a remote campsite in Nova Scotia that was surrounded by howling  coyotes.

Friday night, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police received an emergency call  from the trio saying coyotes had circled their tent in Cape Dauphin on the  northeastern shore of the province, the Cape Breton Post reported.

The area is only accessible by boat from the Atlantic Ocean. The call  triggered responses from the RCMP, the Antigonish Police Dog Services,  Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Coast Guard  Halifax and Coast Guard Reserve.

"At one point, the three hikers were estimating there might of been as many  as 18 (coyotes), and in speaking with the Department of Natural Resources  personnel they actually report that the conditions that night might have been  right for that many to gather," RCMP Constable Brad Anderson said.

He said it's possible the scent of the dog attracted the coyotes.

Officials determined the closest vessel to the beach was a fishing vessel,  which was ordered to rescue the group, the report said.

In 2009, a Toronto woman was attacked and killed by a coyote in nearby Cape  Breton Highlands National Park.

Courtesy of

World News

 

[Billy Guest]

they were camping...possibly were cooking food over a fire or campstove at some point during their excursion...that smell alone would attract wild animals...especially scavengers / predators

[albert linegar]

                             "He said it's possible the scent of the dog attracted the coyotes". 

      These coyotes surely picked up the scent of the three people that were with the dog, so which scent were they really attracted to . Since the campers were rescued , and if there were that many coyotes , it will never be known what the outcome would have been . One thing , however is for certain , they have no fear of humans.

                          Albert.