Taylor Mitchell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taylor Mitchell
Taylor Mitchell in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Taylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow
Born	(1990-08-27)August 27, 1990 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	October 27, 2009(2009-10-27) (aged 19) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres	Folk country
Occupation(s)	Singer–songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2006–2009
Labels	Back Road Tavern Productions

Taylor Mitchell (born August 27, 1990 – died October 27, 2009) was a talented Canadian singer and songwriter. She was known for her country folk music. Taylor grew up in Toronto, Ontario.

Her first and only album, For Your Consideration, was well-liked by many. It also got played on the radio. After a busy summer of performing, Taylor went on a tour across Eastern Canada. She was only 19 years old when she passed away. This happened after she was attacked by two eastern coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Her death was a very rare event. It was the only known fatal coyote attack on an adult in Canada. This sad event made experts think more about how coyotes behave around people.

About Taylor's Music Career

Taylor Josephine Stephanie Luciow was born in Toronto. Her parents were Emily and Ray Luciow. She grew up in a part of Toronto called Roncesvalles. By her mid-teens, Taylor loved to perform.

After finishing high school at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, she decided to become a singer and songwriter. She chose "Mitchell" as her stage name. In 2007, she released a short collection of songs called an EP. Then, in March 2009, she released her full album, For Your Consideration.

In June 2009, Taylor was asked to perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. People who loved folk music and radio stations really liked her work. She even started writing new songs. A musician named Justin Rutledge, who helped with her album, said Taylor wrote songs that were very wise for her age. She was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Young Performer of the Year. This happened just a few days before she died. Her last show was in Lucasville, near Halifax.

Taylor's Album: For Your Consideration

For Your Consideration was Taylor Mitchell's only album. It came out in March 2009. Other musicians like Justin Rutledge and Lynn Miles played on the album.

Music critics liked the album. One reviewer said her music sounded "definitively old school." Another said it sounded like it came from someone much older than Taylor.

Songs on the Album

1. "Don't Know How I Got Here"
2. "For Your Consideration"
3. "Clarity"
4. "Ride Into the Sunset"
5. "Fun While It Lasted"
6. "Diamonds & Rust" (a cover of a Joan Baez song)
7. "Trick of the Light"
8. "Secluded Roads"
9. "Shelter from the Storm"
10. "Love and Maple Syrup" (a cover of a Gordon Lightfoot song)

Taylor's Death

Taylor Mitchell loved nature and the environment. On a sunny afternoon, October 27, 2009, she visited Cape Breton Highlands National Park. She had some free time before her next concert.

She was walking on the Skyline Trail. At 2:45 PM, a couple saw her near the start of the trail. For some reason, Taylor turned back towards her car. It's possible a coyote was already following her.

A few minutes later, another couple saw two coyotes walking on the road. One of the hikers took a picture of the coyotes. Experts later said these coyotes seemed unusually unafraid of people. It is thought these coyotes met Taylor on the road shortly after. The couple then heard what sounded like animal howls or a young woman screaming. They reported this when they reached the car park.

Other hikers arrived at the car park and heard about the possible screams. As they walked along the path, they found Taylor's belongings. These included her keys and a small knife. It is believed she used the knife to try and defend herself. They then saw blood on the ground and on a nearby washroom door.

At 3:25 PM, they found Taylor lying among some trees. A coyote was standing over her. The hikers bravely scared the coyote away. Taylor was awake and could talk to them. The coyote stayed close by, growling, until a police officer shot at it. Taylor had many bites, especially on her leg and head. She was taken to a local hospital and then flown to a larger hospital. Sadly, she died from blood loss.

What Happened After

Experts wondered why this unusual attack happened. Some thought Taylor might have tried to feed the coyotes. Others thought the coyotes might have been sick or protecting their young. However, none of these ideas were proven true. This led to a new understanding of how risky coyotes might be to humans.

Park rangers searched for the coyotes involved in the attack. Taylor's mother said that her daughter would not have wanted the coyotes to be killed. She said, "We take a calculated risk when spending time in nature’s fold — it’s the wildlife’s terrain." She felt Taylor would have wanted them to be safe.

However, a female coyote that acted aggressively was killed hours after the incident. Three more coyotes were caught and killed near the trail. A large male coyote was also found and killed later. Scientists studied the coyotes. They found Taylor's blood on three of them. This showed these three were involved in the attack. The large male coyote was the one seen in the photo and found standing over Taylor.

Park managers and scientists did not want to kill all coyotes in the park. They knew coyotes reproduce quickly. Killing many might not solve the problem. Instead, they focused on teaching coyotes to avoid humans. Visitors were asked to report any close encounters with coyotes.

In 2013, a documentary film called Bad Coyote was released. It talked about Taylor's death and how coyotes are spreading in Eastern Canada. A study in 2022 found that the coyotes involved in the attack had been eating moose. This was unusual for them. It was thought that not having smaller prey made them used to hunting large animals. This might have made them see Taylor as a food source.

Taylor Mitchell Legacy Trust

Taylor's mother created the Taylor Mitchell Legacy Trust to honor her daughter. This trust works with the David Suzuki Foundation. It helps young people express themselves through music and art. It also teaches about protecting nature and how humans and wildlife can live together safely.

See also

In Spanish: Taylor Mitchell para niños

• Kelly Keen coyote attack
• Kenton Carnegie wolf attack