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Way, J.G. 2010. Coywolf (Eastern Coyote)

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Way, J.G. 2010. Coywolf (Eastern Coyote) Elusive, yet abundant. Loved, and hated. Omni-present, but living at low densities. All of these seemingly contradictory offspring, which delay dispersal to remain ranged all the way up the East Coast statements hold true for the coywolf in their natal territory. rather than historically living just in the (also known as the eastern coyote), an Their colors range from blonde to southeast U.S. as was originally thought. emerging species that has saturated all darker brown and black, though they are Interestingly, this wolf is genetically more of northeastern North America in the usually tawny brown or agouti in appear- closely related to coyotes than to gray past 50 years. ance with much speckled black and wolves, although they can mate/hybridize You may have observed one in a sub- brown on their magnificent coats. The with both. In the Northeast, the only urb of the Northeast. Maybe in the deep attributes of big body size and variable known place where wolves and coyotes forest of the snowy North Woods of coat colors are largely the result of hybrid- hybridize, samples are approximately one Maine, or on the frozen lakeshores of ization with wolves. These attributes have third wolf and two thirds coyote but one Nova Scotia. Possibly you have seen one led to the relatively new concept that we coyote-related haplotype (39 percent of stalking the agricultural regions outside should actually be calling these animals total samples) is eastern specific, meaning of Burlington, Vermont and Manchester, coywolves, which more accurately de- that it is not known to be present in any New Hampshire. Maybe you have seen scribes the genetic composition of this western coyote populations. a mated pair gliding among the man- successful canid. The habitat of the coywolf is tremen- sions of southern Connecticut or have It is thought that this creature formed dously variable and includes all available heard pups howling in the woods of in the early 1900s in southern Ontario land ranging from wilderness to rural to towns in Boston’s Metro-West; or per- when wolves were being exterminated urban. However, they survive best, and haps you have spied their tracks while from the region, and favorable habitat are often found at higher densities, in hiking the Appalachian Trail running change (clearing of forests), along with places with lots of edge habitat such as from Baxter State Park in Maine and the removal of wolves as competition, agricultural and suburban regions. These stretching southwest to the mountains of the Whites of New Hampshire, then the attributes of big body size and variable coat colors further through Massachusetts and Coywolf southern New England. are largely the result of hybridization with wolves. One thing is sure, if you live in the Northeast, it is likely that what most call allowed western coyotes to colonize the areas provide cover and an abundant food (EastErn CoyotE) the eastern coyote lives nearby. It is found area. It is thought that coyotes and supply due to increased browse available throughout the region, from New Jersey wolves hybridized and their offspring to their usual prey, and often are less Canis latrans x lycaon and Pennsylvania up to Maine and New began colonizing the Northeast. Bigger hunted by humans due to private prop- York, and ranges north into Canada, in- than western coyotes and smaller than erty and restrictions on the use of guns cluding southern Quebec and Ontario, wolves, these animals were initially in urbanized areas. Thus, during your Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. called coydogs by locals; then in the travels in and around the A.T. be sure to Northeastern North America is home 1960s and 1970s it was recommended keep your eyes and ears out for glimpses to this large “coyote,” which averages 30 that they be called eastern coyotes, es- of this elusive creature and, while sleeping to 45 pounds. Its paw print is oval and sentially a variant of coyote. Though in your summer tent, listen for their in- ranges from 3 to 3.5 inches long, which is they didn’t actually have any dog in famous howling while you are sacked-out literally off the chart where most field them, they were noticeably more massive from a long day afoot. Those fortunate guides are concerned, describing coyotes than their namesake. enough to see signs of the coywolf, or text and photos By Jon Way as having a maximum 2.5-inch-long foot- It wasn’t until the early 2000s that maybe the actual creature, should con- print. They feed on virtually anything genetic work verified that they indeed sider themselves lucky to know that this ranging from mice (especially meadow were hybrids between western coyotes area is now more wild and healthier eco- voles) and garbage, to rabbits and cats, to and wolves. However, the major finding logically by having this relatively large adult white-tailed deer, and possibly even by Brad White’s Lab at Trent University predator living amongst us. young moose. They are highly social, was that the wolf responsible for this often living in packs of four individuals. unique event was not the larger and more Jonathan Way is the author of Suburban Howls, The breeding pair mates in mid-January well-known gray wolf (Canis lupus) but which details his experiences and research findings to early February and the female gives rather a smaller type of wolf called the in layman’s terms. birth in late-March into April, usually eastern wolf (Canis lycaon). The eastern later in more northerly areas. All pack wolf is believed to be genetically similar For more information visit: members take care of the pups including to the red wolf (Canis rufus) and is likely www.EasternCoyoteResearch.com the breeding pair and their full-grown the same species, meaning that it probably a.t. journeys July–august 2010 29.
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