The Legendary NYS Wolf

[beachpeaz]

So, one of my employees very close friends trapped this guy in Woodhull, NY.  The beast weighed close to 150lbs.

 

He contacted the DEC (because, ya know, there are no Wolves in NYS).  They immediately (and without pause) said that it is just a large Coyote.

 

I've seen some big Coyotes (like 65-70lbs), but 150??  And look at the features on him, that screams wolf to me.

 

Is this another DEC cover up??  Thoughts?

 

This is not through a rumor mill either.  I personally know this guy.

[MACHINIST]

Looks like a coyote to me,a very very big one but it still looks like one to me.There is no way I am buying its 150 either.Just my .02 cents

Edited November 24, 2014 by MACHINIST

[burmjohn]

Did he drop that off at a taxidermist, if so what did he say? That is a big boy man wew. 

[WNYBuckHunter]

150lbs? Not even close. It only looks so big because he is squatting 15 feet behind it.

[steve863]

LOL.  Another picture where the hunter is sitting a half mile behind his kill.

 

 

 

[burmjohn]

150lbs? Not even close. It only looks so big because he is squatting 15 feet behind it.

 

True, still a big dog though no?

[moog5050]

^{Curious - what features scream wolf?  It is bigger than any coyote I have seen, but at least its tail (very bushy) and color looks more coyote than wolf.  I am no expert so am interested as to what you think makes it look like a wolf.}

[bisceglia]

huge dog but no way 150, has all the features of a coyote.

[BizCT]

Nowhere close to 150lbs in my opinion.

 

Here's a picture of my Dad with a 125lb or 135lb. (can't remember) Male wolf in British Columbia, which is a very big one. Many wolves in Canada, Minnesota, etc. don't break 100lbs.

[Al Bundy]

Very interesting. A bit of google search gives the following:

 

..."EARS
Looking at the ears is a key way to distinguish between a wolf and a coyote. Coyote ears are larger in proportion to head size. In fact, a 30 lb. coyote can have ears as big or bigger than an 80 lb. wolf. Also, wolves have rounded ears. Coyote's ears are pointed."

 

They look rounded in the picture to me, though a bit tricky to tell.

 

More:

 

.."The snouts are distinguishing features. While the wolf's snout is blocky, the coyote's snout is pointed."

 

Looks blocky to me.

 

Any plans for further investigation or thats it? Would be interesting to get definitive answer either way.

[Five Seasons]

big. but tiz not 150. Could easily do some studies of the skull and tell i would imagine. The eastern coyote has wolf in it's genetics so I would not be surprised to see some recessive traits pop up here and there.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Belo

[Curmudgeon]

This is a NYS coy-wolf. I have no idea how big it is.

 

[WNYBuckHunter]

True, still a big dog though no?

 

Yeah looks like a good yote. I have some trail cam pics of a couple on our farm that would give that one a run for its money.

[MACHINIST]

Dan the OP picture nose looks blocky to you?Looks pointed to me

[skeets716]

Another thing about Coyotes, their fur is very fluffy making them appear much larger than they actually are.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Very interesting. A bit of google search gives the following:

 

..."EARS

Looking at the ears is a key way to distinguish between a wolf and a coyote. Coyote ears are larger in proportion to head size. In fact, a 30 lb. coyote can have ears as big or bigger than an 80 lb. wolf. Also, wolves have rounded ears. Coyote's ears are pointed."

 

They look rounded in the picture to me, though a bit tricky to tell.

 

More:

 

.."The snouts are distinguishing features. While the wolf's snout is blocky, the coyote's snout is pointed."

 

Looks blocky to me.

 

Any plans for further investigation or thats it? Would be interesting to get definitive answer either way.

 

um, those ears are clearly pointed and large, and the snout is very pointed. Im not sure what pic you are looking at but compare Biz's pic of an actual wolf to the OPs pic of the coyote.

 

[WNYBuckHunter]

This is a NYS coy-wolf. I have no idea how big it is.

 

Andes wolf-like coyote.JPG

 

Its a yote. probably 35 maybe 40 lbs.

[Al Bundy]

Y I thought the ears were rounded on the top, more so than the coyote image on google. Snout looked blockier than the google image I was looking at as well. 

[beachpeaz]

I gaurantee you it is not 35 or 40 lbs.  I have a house cat that weights 22.

 

Yes, he is squatting behind it, but not for effect.  I don't believe it was 150 lbs either, that is what he had said.

 

I do believe it is pushing 100 lbs though.

 

Why it screams wolf to me, it is much more "bulky" and muscular than any coyote Ive seen.  Coyotes (as mentioned above) have fluffy coats making them appear much bigger than what they are.  They tend to be lanky critters.  Look at the muscle tone on this guy.  Look particularly at his front shoulder muscles.  This is not a "coat hiding his size."   This guy IS very large despite the coat.

 

And to the other comments, a Coyote and a Wolf are of the same lineage and very, very, very close relatives, so of course they are going to look similar.  to the untrained eye, maybe even identical.

 

I believe this is part of the DEC denial.  They don't do any genetic testing.  They just dismiss all wolf sitings as "big coyotes."  It would not be remotely hard for a timber wolf to show up and easily be mistaken for Coyote.  In fact, some timber wolfs are the same size as a Coyote.

[BizCT]

This is a NYS coy-wolf. I have no idea how big it is.

 

Andes wolf-like coyote.JPG

 

That is a nice yote, but don't think it cracks 50lbs.  Fur makes things look much bigger. The Lynx in my avatar was very long and looks very big, looks 40lbs+ when it was actually 25lbs on a legit scale.

[Bow Addict]

Looks like a large coyote to me,but not 150 lbs.It looks so big because the guy is so far behind it.Just like the monster deer photos!

[beachpeaz]

compare the 2 photos above of the one I posted and then the Yote over the carcass.  Look at how lanky the Coyote is.  You can tell once you strip the fur, he is just a skinny dude underneath.  Look at my picture and look at the muscle tone in the shouders and neck.  Also look at the size of the front paws.  A good indication of true size of an animal.

[Curmudgeon]

I believe this is part of the DEC denial.  They don't do any genetic testing.  They just dismiss all wolf sitings as "big coyotes."  It would not be remotely hard for a timber wolf to show up and easily be mistaken for Coyote.  In fact, some timber wolfs are the same size as a Coyote.

 

As for your claim of DEC denial - read the June Conservationist - http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/97131.html. The article states that eastern coyotes are genetically ~26% wolf.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Curmudgeon

[Water Rat]

Looks like a big prime coyote....any idea what kind of foothold he used ?

[turkeyfeathers]

Coyote