“I think it was a Coywolf”

by Prince Of Petworth August 31, 2016 at 11:10 am 16 Comments

coywolf-_ForestWander
Photo by http://www.ForestWander.com via Wikipedia

This was a wild thread I’ve been meaning to post from Monday:

Anyone else in #SWDC see an animal that looked like a dark coyote running around tonight?Big, Dog-like face but bushy tail @PoPville

— Elizabeth Lawrence (@ElizMLaw) August 30, 2016

@BowmanKingman @PoPville I think it was a Coywolf- never heard of them before but the photos are a dead ringer for what I saw

— Elizabeth Lawrence (@ElizMLaw) August 30, 2016

Wikipedia says:

“Aside from the combinations of coyotes and eastern wolves making up most of the modern day eastern coyote’s genepools, a study in 2013 by mammalian biologist Dr. Javier Monzón revealed that some of the coyotes in the northeastern USA also have mild domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and western Great Plains gray wolf (Canis lupus nubilus) influences in their genepool, thus suggesting that the eastern coyote is actually a four-in-one hybrid of coyotes, eastern wolves, western gray wolves, and dogs; and that the hybrids living in areas with higher white-tailed deer density often have higher degrees of wolf genes than those living in urban environments. The addition of domestic dog genes may have played a minor role in facilitating the eastern hybrids’ adaptability to survive in human developed areas.”

PDleftMtP

I’ve seen some variety of coyote in Mt. Pleasant (along Adams Mill). They’re definitely in the park.
beckstarhambecca

this is fascinating and pretty cool for an urban environment – wish i’d seen it!
wdc

So, let’s be clear: not a panther.
.
As gross as it will be for anyone to come across the remains of its dinner, I’m glad there’s something other than cars and prions to help with deer population control.
- Prince Of Petworth
  
  Relive that epic debate here: https://www.popville.com/2016/08/i-called-animal-control-feeling-like-a-screwball-but-i-saw-what-i-saw/
  - womp
    
    YOU BEAT ME TO IT!!
anonymouse_dianne

Coyotes, wolves, and dogs all have the same Mitochondrial DNA. They can interbreed and their off spring can reproduce. If you’ve ever been to Alaska all most all of the domestic dogs are part wolf. Wolves and dogs also share the same “language”. (Not sure about coyotes). Coyotes are very shy, so interbreeding with wolves and dogs could be to their advantage in an urban setting. As an example, the coyote population in Chicago is around 300, but you never see them.
- This is Awkward
  
  We had several “living prairie” areas in the Chicago suburb where I grew up, and there was a coyote or two living in nearly every one (these are tiny plots for the most part, keep in mind)…except you almost never saw a single one of them. I think if the suburban neighbors realized how many coyotes were actually in the vicinity, they would have been a little spooked 🙂
- v
  
  tell this to the OP on another post sad for the puppies she saw in a homeless enclave. OP would never believe that dogs MIGHT be able to take care of themselves without the help of humans
  - Clarissa
    
    Do you not understand the difference between domesticated v. wild animals?
- JGK
  
  Pre-Cubs revival, but this bit about Coyotes at Wrigley makes me crack up: http://deadspin.com/5963323/drawn-by-the-scent-of-death-and-decay-coyotes-prowl-wrigley-field
  - anonymouse_dianne
    
    Cool!
dtsb

I saw an episode of Nature on PBS a couple of years ago on the coywolf. Very interesting. http://www.pbs.org/video/2365159966/
Ashy Oldlady

I’m even more worried about the wolves that are cross-breeding with hawks in Rock Creek Park. Their airwolf offspring are terrifying.
- ft petwood
  
  bravo.
also anon

Sometimes I get overwhelmed thinking about all the weird secrets Rock Creek Park is hiding!
v

this rocks

Subscribe to our mailing list