A camper biking at Cape Breton Highlands National Park encountered an aggressive coyote that bit him, but he still described his overall experience on the Cabot Trail as peaceful. Alex Radu from Ontario shared the incident where the coyote approached him suddenly at the MacIntosh Brook campsite. Despite his attempts to scare it off, the coyote persisted and eventually bit him. Radu had to run for safety to a nearby building, realizing the bite only later when he noticed his torn pant leg and bite marks.
Radu reported the incident to park staff the next day and received medical assistance, including a rabies vaccine as a precaution. Parks Canada confirmed the euthanization of a coyote in the same area but couldn’t confirm if it was the same one involved in the attack on Radu.
An ecologist from Parks Canada advised on handling encounters with aggressive coyotes, emphasizing backing away slowly and facing the animal until reaching safety. The park remains vigilant, with certain areas closed for safety measures. Additionally, bear spray and walking sticks were recommended as deterrents against coyotes.
Despite the frightening encounter, Radu expressed that he still enjoyed his time at the park, highlighting other positive experiences during his visit. Parks Canada continues to monitor the situation and urges visitors to report any encounters with wildlife for safety reasons.