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Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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Posted by ovenbird (My Page) on Mon, May 18, 09 at 10:19
| Had this beautiful animal wander through our backyard several times this spring. It is quite a bit larger than a coyote (about 1/3 bigger), but was running around with one. Its tail was never held up like a dog when it runs.
Unfortunately, we didn't retrieve the scat until after a day of heavy rains so it was not in its original condition. But we could see the scat contained what we think are teeth...1/4-1/2" creamy "bits" of smooth, regular shape and size. We didn't probe into the scat but only looked at the outer edges, so we don't know what other goodies were included.
Any ideas of what this might be?
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| look like a mix between the two. the Coyote you seen could be a mate. They do cross on rare occasions. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| Although it looks like it still has a winter coat, that's an awfully big coyote. I don't see wolf in any part of the animal other than the estimated size. Coyotes are bigger in the east than in the west, and I don't know where you live, but I live in NJ and I've actually got a pic of a black coyote very similar to your second pic(taken in April of 07) and it's clearly not nearly as large. I'd say you either have a very large and healthy coyote or what is referred to as a coydog. A hybrid between a male coyote and a female feral dog. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| Thanks for the suggestions. suzq_07: We live near Chicago, so we're considered "east". Could you post your picture? |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| Sure, here's the link. Sorry about the quality. This was taken with a trail camera. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Black Coyote
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| What awesome photos! I have never seen a coyote like either of these. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| Personally this animal looks like a coyote dog hybrid. It's not that uncommon for the two species to intermix. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| That is called a coydog. They are common for up here in NY but odd for Illinois. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| I would agree with most of the postings. It's a coy. If you have cats or small dogs as pets or small children I'd keep them up. They are even more agressive then regular coyotes. They don't have that natural fear of man that coyotes do. We have seen several pure black coyotes here as well. The small white creamy bits may have been tapeworms. Common in predetory animals like coys and coyotes. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| I have heard a biologist speak in northeastern coyotes and she said that a large number of "coyotes" in that area carry some wolf dna is their blood. That first pic of this post sure looks like a wolf-coyote, the head, ears and eye positioning doesn't look like dog material. But who knows...maybe an f2 cross. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| i live 40 mi west of chicago, and we have a wolf in our forest preserves. took pics to wolf park and monty sloan, famous wolf photographer, believes it to be a wolf. saw it close up -15 ft away- not huge but shepard size. black body with brownish face whitish throat andbelly. small ears like wolf tail like wolf, not coyote. no look of dog at all. more coyote like face then dog. if anything othe then pure wolf, coywolf. could be what yours is. white spots show its shedding its winter coat. summer coat will be much lighter. have pics of ours showing it shedding its winter coat. looks scruffy. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| shirleyt59, cool! Can you post your pics? |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| sorry, I cant figure out how to post it, its in one of my email folders. I would email it to you if you want it. ha ha ! not very computer savvy |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| Looks like a coywolf to me. Here on Cape Cod, the vast majority of our coyotes have at least 25% wolf DNA, according to our local wildlife experts, and your critter has the same look as many around here. Regardless of what it is, if it's roaming around your neighborhood, keep an eye on your kids when they're playing outside! |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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| Whoa! That is a beautiful animal, but mean looking! I would be cautious heading outdoors! Keep track of your pets and kids. |
RE: Coyote or wolf or hybrid?
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Great shot!
Coyotes can get large, I was wondering about this animal too, turned out to be a Coyote.
 
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