Alberta RCMP investigate 'disturbing' video of coyote slowly beaten to death

RCMP in Grande Prairie, Alta., are investigating after a video surfaced online showing two boys brutally beating a coyote to death.

The video, which appeared on Facebook Sunday, shows a lifeless coyote being piled into the back of a snowmobile. The rest of the 53-second clip shows how the animal died slowly after multiple blows to the head.

Read our latest story on the investigation:'Disgusting' video of coyote beating condemned by Alberta hunters

In the video, one boy picks up a coyote by its hind legs and smashes its head repeatedly into the back of a snowmobile.

The animal, still alive, is then pictured sitting in the snow, blinking and stunned. Someone off camera laughs.

Then, a boy curses at the animal and kicks it repeatedly in the head. As the coyote stands and begins to limp away, someone in a snowmobile chases after it and grabs it by the tail.

Due to the graphic nature of the video, CBChas decided to only broadcast a few seconds of the 53-second clip.

Warning: Video contains graphic content that may be disturbing to viewers:

WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO: Coyote beating in northern Alberta

6 years ago

Duration 0:17

This is a portion of a longer video showing a group of minors allegedly beating a coyote to death. CBC News has blurred the faces and disguised the voices of the minors involved.

A Grande Prairie man who shared the video withCBCNews said he reported the incident toRCMPand Alberta Fish and Wildlife. He askedCBCNews to keep his name confidential.

He said the incident happened inSexsmithover the weekend.

In a news release, RCMP in Grande Prairie said they are investigatingan online video"depictingthe inhumanedeath of a wild animal."

RCMPare in the preliminary stages of their investigation, Cpl. Maria Ogden toldCBCNews on Monday. She declined to provide further details.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife officials arealso investigating.

"We believe we've identified the individuals involved, but it's too early to speculate on specific offences or potential charges," Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Jason Van Rasselsaid in an interview.

The man who reported the videodescribed what he saw as grotesque and inhumane.

"Very disturbing," he said. "That's some very sociopathic behaviour. It's blatantly criminal."

The man said he doesn't know the boys personally but felt compelled to report them. He said he hopes they are held accountable and "get some help."

"I mean, just look at how disturbing that video is, especially when the coyote is sitting there with fear in its face and they zoom in on it and laugh.

"It's just heart-wrenching and disturbing on two ends of the spectrum.

"No sane human would accept that."