When nature stalks . . .

If you go to singer / songwriter Taylor Mitchell's MySpace page, you'll see the playdates listed for her eastern Canada tour to promote her new album, "For Your Consideration."

She won't be playing at any of the venues listed.

While visiting the Maritime Provinces as part of that tour, the promising 19-year-old Toronto singer -- whose smoky-folksy acoustic style won her a nomination as Canadian Folk Music Awards '2009 Young Performer of the Year' -- decided to take a hike in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in northern Nova Scotia on Tuesday.

Two hikers, also in the park, heard her screams for help and called local police dispatchers.

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. Huffington Post 28 October 2009

She died today, a victim of an attack by one, possibly two, coyotes.

Yup.
Coyotes.

On the southwest Alaska coast where I live, I'm surrounded by moose and bears, caribou and wolves, foxes and other widlife.

I know they're there and I try to limit my encounters with them all.
I have a healthy appreciation for nature and how dangerous her creatures can be.
Most all Alaskans do, and for good reason.

Hikers in the park behind Anchorage register bear encounters almost weekly.


Then, just several weeks ago, an Alaskan native man was attacked by a wolf as he walked a short distance from his hunting companions at a remote camp in southwest Alaska.

(Click here to hear the story as reported by Alaska Public Radio

Network's Shane Iverson: it's a remarkable story to hear!)

I've been stalked twice by wolves, once when I was eleven and again when I was 14, and then had an eerie close encounter just two years ago right outside my house ... I might blog about it sometime.

Thing is: We Alaskans get no small amount of grief from people who anthropomorphise and glamorize bears and wolves into cute, pet-like creatures we should hug, not fear.

I know better.

I've been on the receiving end of a few of those creatures and when they're in your face, on your trail and threaten your life, they ain't cuddly and they ain't cute.

I'm one who believes that mankind has gotten a bit too pushy about his presence on this planet: we tear down forests, fill in wetlands and generally make life for the earth's other inhabitants a bit too limited and difficult.... but I also know that having a superstition-like belief that bears and wolves are our friends is beyond silly, it's stupid and irresponsible.

Taylor Mitchell didn't expect a coyote to be her enemy on that hike Tuesday.
Frankly, neither would I . . . but it happens . . . and stories like this hit very, very close to 'home' to me.

My heart goes out to Canadians, Taylors friends and her family.

For me, this is a surprising but familiar story.

For them, it must be a total shocker . . .
. . . and a horrific loss.

.