Canadian Folk Singer Taylor Mitchell Killed by Coyotes

It seemed like the perfect way to spend a day off from her Canadian musical tour: A serene hike through a popular national park in Canada. But that decision turned deadly for up-and-coming folk singer Taylor Mitchell on Tuesday, as she was attacked and killed by several coyotes in broad daylight.

The singer, 19, was at the start of the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia when several coyotes charged her, Parks Canada field unit superintendent Chip Bird tells CNN. Several hikers saw the attack and called 911, but it was too late: Mitchell was airlifted to a Halifax hospital and died about 12 hours later.

Calling the attack an "unprecedented and totally isolated incident," Bird says there has never been a coyote attack in the park before. One coyote believed to be involved has been killed, and its body will be tested for diseases that may have triggered the attack. Officials are on the lookout for more.

Animal Planet zoologist Dave Salmoni told PEOPLEPets.com in September that coyote attacks on humans are quite uncommon. "They're generally solitary animals, and scared of people," he says. "If you scream at them, they'll go away. But in very, very rare instances they do go after people."

For now, friends and family of the singer are mourning the tragic loss. In a statement to PEOPLEPets.com, Mitchell's manager Lisa Weitz said, "Words can't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet, compassionate, vibrant and phenomenally talented young woman. She just turned 19 two months ago, and was so excited about the future, her recent Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination and debut East Coast tour. Her excitement was contagious and positively palpable. Her warmth, loving nature, astounding artistry and infectious enthusiasm will be so missed and forever remembered."

See more stories about coyotes on PEOPLEPets.com:
Coyote Not-So-Ugly: Shreve Stockton's New Book Details Life with Charlie the Coyote
Jessica Simpson's Coyote Nightmare: Common and Preventable

Kate Hogan