Coyote attacks teenager in Cape Breton

[Tony Cooney]

A 14-year-old Nova Scotia boy is recovering from coyote bites to his leg and buttock after he was attacked by an aggressive animal while on a Cape Breton trail on Tuesday night.

The Department of Natural Resources said the teenager was riding a dirt bike, and had dismounted, when he was attacked on a trail near Sydport Industrial Park in the Westmount area of Cape Breton.

He was checked out by health officials and his wounds are not considered serious, the department said Wednesday in a news release.

Terry Power, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, told CBC News the boy managed to fight off the animal and took off on his bike.

Power said he interviewed the victim and his father and it's not clear what prompted the attack.

"It's difficult to explain, quite frankly. We visited the site, we do look for something in the area that might explain what took place. For example, coyotes have been known to defend a kill quite aggressively," said Power.

"We looked for that sort of sign as well as potentially a den in the area, but no. It's just an unusual occurrence, it's rare."

Wildlife officials are searching the trail and have called in a trained trapper to remove the animal.

"It's surprising that the animal was right there when he stopped the bike, assuming that he was moving along at motorcycle speed through the trail," said Power.

"It's possible that the animal did follow him and he behaved normally. As far as we can tell, it was an unprovoked attack."

In 2010, Nova Scotia began paying trappers $20 per coyote pelt as part of a bounty program designed to reduce aggressive coyote behaviour.

There were several calls to bring in the bounty after the death of a Toronto singer in October 2009. Taylor Mitchell, 19, was killed by two coyotes while hiking the Skyline Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Both animals have since been caught and destroyed.

IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME AND WE WILL BE READING THIS STORY HERE IN NEWFOUNDLAND /p>

[kenneth Griffiths]

Oh it's going to happen, as sure they are around school's now it will only take some child to be alone just to be attacked.

[Jacalynn Furlong]

It is only a matter of time, that's why we have to take all the necessary precautions and actions to protect our kids, ourselves and our pets. We need to teach our children more about this animal and all wildlife for that matter and advise our kids on what to do if this kind of situation was to happen. 

[Grant]

Let the hysteria begin.

[Trevor Maddigan]

You have way more chance of being attack by a moose in NL than a coyote.  Not saying it wouldn't happen.  But alot less likely.  My 2cents... 

[kenneth Griffiths]

The post wan't on someone getting shot in a house. It was a coyote attack. You blow things wat out there. Someone put's up a post and your all over it like fly's on rice. It's just to let you know that coyote do attack people from some reason and they are not pet's. So you are telling everyone that if you had a child outside and there was a coyote or two in your back yard you would let you kids keep on playing??  Ya right.

[Tony Cooney]

At the end of the article, my statement was not intended to be "fear-mongering".  However, a healthy respect and fear is good when dealing with ALL wild animals.  I especially feel this applies to coyotes.  I understand how you may feel that people will blow this out of proportion.  It's human nature to do so.  But safety is important and people should know that coyotes have been known to attack humans.  My purpose was to draw awareness to this issue so that people will be more alert in the woods, and know how to deal with these animals if the come in contact with one (especially this time of year with camping season upon us).  In Alberta, if people go into the woods, they are encouraged to wear bear bells and carry pepper spray.  Is that fear-mongering too?

[kenneth Griffiths]

Well said.

[Jacalynn Furlong]

Very well said Tony!

[Peter Emberley]

I think we need to show all wild animals respect because of their unpredictability. I do believe this is a rare case. I also believe that it could possibly happen here, eventually. I think the moral of this story, is to teach our children about the dangers of approaching or being approached by any wild animal. Try and give the animal lots of space and get away from the area.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[Jacalynn Furlong]

I agree 100% Peter!