Is what you are seeing a wolf or a coyote?

“Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way.” ~John Muir (1838-1914) “Father of the National Parks”, Founder of National Audubon Society and author.

Coyotes and wolves have some similarities, but in fact they have many differences between them. Unlike a wolf, a coyote has a bushy, thick tail, which it holds low to the ground. Wolves generally have gray, black, or white fur and are bigger in size than the coyotes. While an adult coyote weighs around 25-40 pounds, a wolf can be weigh 50-120 pounds. However male wolves have been recorded up to 175 pounds. The legs of a coyote are visibly shorter and thinner than those of a wolf.

Coyotes are found throughout the United States and Canada. Wolves can be found in Alaska, northern Michigan, northern Wisconsin, western Montana, northern Idaho, northeast Washington northeast Oregon and the Yellowstone area in Wyoming.

Coyotes have been called the kings of adaptation, because although they are native to prairies, they have adapted to live in urban environments, suburban areas, forest, meadows and prairies. They have adapted to the presence of people, because where people are is often where they can find food. Wolves, however, are skittish and tend to stick to forest cover and avoid people.

Coyotes are less selective eaters than wolves. Coyotes are technically carnivores, meaning that they eat meat. They hunt rabbits, mice and other small mammals and sometimes will prey on deer. However, they also have back molars with large chewing surfaces which makes it easy for them to eat fruit, grass, insects, and even pet food if it is left outside.

Wolves are solely meat-eaters. Gray wolves, prey on large, hoofed animals such as deer, moose, elk and the like. If they need a secondary food source, they will also hunt beaver, hares, birds or small mammals. They will also prey on livestock or eat carrion if no fresh meat is available.

Wolves howl to communicate with the other members of their pack and other packs. They also howl to attract mates, when they wake up, and when they sense any danger. The howls or barks of coyotes are high pitched and are long rising and falling notes. People refer to the calls of coyotes as yips and yelps.

Their ear shape is also much different; wolves have somewhat rounded ears while coyotes have taller, pointed ears. Wolves have a broader, shorter snout, while coyotes have a narrow more pointed nose. Fur coloration can be quite similar between wolves and coyotes.

Enjoy Boundary County and all its wildlife.