Coyote Image, An Expert's Opinion

Airedale1 · 12-29-2010, 04:52 PM

Earlier this month I posted this image:

I stated that it was a Coyote and some folks here thought I was wrong. Some said it was a Coy-dog or a Northern Wolf and some said it was definitely not a Coyote.

Although I am a wildlife photographer, my focus is on birds. I am certainly no expert on Coyotes or Wolves. So, I decided to forward the image to an expert for his opinion and he was kind enough to share his expertise with me.

Below is his reply to my query regarding I.D. of the animal in this image:

Hi Paul,

The animal photographed, in this magnificent photo, is an eastern coyote. Eastern coyotes have wolf genetics, thus is a "cross" considering an evolutionary biologist stand point.

My identification is based on the ear to head proportion, head size, nose shape and ear shape. I also used the beech leaves as an approximate scale.

Given the animals robust size and body shape I can understand why some would believe the animal is wolf. However it is not the body size and shape that assist biologist with wild canid identification. Given that eastern coyotes are a cross of western coyote/wolf genetics, a large coyote can look wolf like and a small wolf can look coyote like. Thus, biologist look at the details I used above.

Another identifier of coyote versus wolf is the animals tail use when moving. Wolves point the tail straight out when moving, eastern coyotes keep the tail down. I could not use this identifier as it appears the animal was standing still when photographed.

Sincerely,

Patrick Tate
New Hampshire Fish & Game Department
Furbearer Project Leader
Region 3 Wildlife Biologist
225 Main St, Durham NH, 03824

Nagigator · 12-29-2010, 05:12 PM

Great clarification! Kind of a relief, knowing there are no wolves in the area, we have plenty of wildlife to go around!

Lakesrider · 12-29-2010, 08:22 PM

Yeah I was perusing around the gallery section and came across another photo that looked just like Airdale1's photo. Under it the caption read eastern Coyote.
I just never bothered to go back and correct my original "It's a wolf" post.

Well at any rate that is one BIG Coyote that I would not want to meet in my back yard......

Lucy Goose · 01-04-2011, 05:16 PM

That is a good size coyote! I have a pic of one on my website http://www.brendajacobsphotography.com under Galleries/Wildlife that took down a deer on my property. There was actually two of them but not in the pic. When I first saw them I thought they were German Shepherds because of their size. Then I did some reading up on eastern coyotes. Basically exactly what you posted above.

All the more reason not to leave your small even medium size pets outside alone.

Cheers,

Lucy Goose

VitaBene · 01-04-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

That is a good size coyote! I have a pic of one on my website http://www.brendajacobsphotography.com under Galleries/Wildlife that took down a deer on my property. There was actually two of them but not in the pic. When I first saw them I thought they were German Shepherds because of their size. Then I did some reading up on eastern coyotes. Basically exactly what you posted above.

All the more reason not to leave your small even medium size pets outside alone.

Cheers,

Lucy Goose

That is a nice shot LG!!

Grant · 01-05-2011, 11:40 AM

Amazing shot, LG. Nice site, too.

Pepper · 01-05-2011, 07:27 PM

Great website, LG! Love your work! Thanks for sharing the link.

12-29-2010, 04:52 PM	#1
Airedale1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laconia Posts: 595 Thanks: 557 Thanked 1,569 Times in 274 Posts	Coyote Image, An Expert's Opinion Earlier this month I posted this image: I stated that it was a Coyote and some folks here thought I was wrong. Some said it was a Coy-dog or a Northern Wolf and some said it was definitely not a Coyote. Although I am a wildlife photographer, my focus is on birds. I am certainly no expert on Coyotes or Wolves. So, I decided to forward the image to an expert for his opinion and he was kind enough to share his expertise with me. Below is his reply to my query regarding I.D. of the animal in this image: Hi Paul, The animal photographed, in this magnificent photo, is an eastern coyote. Eastern coyotes have wolf genetics, thus is a "cross" considering an evolutionary biologist stand point. My identification is based on the ear to head proportion, head size, nose shape and ear shape. I also used the beech leaves as an approximate scale. Given the animals robust size and body shape I can understand why some would believe the animal is wolf. However it is not the body size and shape that assist biologist with wild canid identification. Given that eastern coyotes are a cross of western coyote/wolf genetics, a large coyote can look wolf like and a small wolf can look coyote like. Thus, biologist look at the details I used above. Another identifier of coyote versus wolf is the animals tail use when moving. Wolves point the tail straight out when moving, eastern coyotes keep the tail down. I could not use this identifier as it appears the animal was standing still when photographed. Sincerely, Patrick Tate New Hampshire Fish & Game Department Furbearer Project Leader Region 3 Wildlife Biologist 225 Main St, Durham NH, 03824 __________________ "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Nelson Henderson (1865-1943)

12-29-2010, 05:12 PM	#2
Nagigator Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Central Ma. Posts: 290 Thanks: 268 Thanked 55 Times in 39 Posts	good to know.......... Great clarification! Kind of a relief, knowing there are no wolves in the area, we have plenty of wildlife to go around!

01-05-2011, 11:40 AM	#6
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,485 Thanks: 337 Thanked 212 Times in 116 Posts	Amazing shot, LG. Nice site, too. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

01-05-2011, 07:27 PM	#7
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	Great website, LG! Love your work! Thanks for sharing the link. __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is!

The Following 14 Users Say Thank You to Airedale1 For This Useful Post:
beagle (12-30-2010), Grant (01-03-2011), gravy boat (12-31-2010), jeffatsquam (12-29-2010), Jonas Pilot (12-29-2010), lawn psycho (01-05-2011), MarkinNH (12-30-2010), Nagigator (12-29-2010), Newbiesaukee (12-30-2010), Pepper (12-30-2010), Rattlesnake Gal (01-13-2011), SteveA (12-29-2010), VitaBene (01-04-2011), Yosemite Sam (12-29-2010)

12-29-2010, 08:22 PM	#3
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Yeah I was perusing around the gallery section and came across another photo that looked just like Airdale1's photo. Under it the caption read eastern Coyote. I just never bothered to go back and correct my original "It's a wolf" post. Well at any rate that is one BIG Coyote that I would not want to meet in my back yard......

01-04-2011, 05:16 PM	#4
Lucy Goose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 228 Thanks: 29 Thanked 108 Times in 29 Posts	That is a good size coyote! I have a pic of one on my website http://www.brendajacobsphotography.com under Galleries/Wildlife that took down a deer on my property. There was actually two of them but not in the pic. When I first saw them I thought they were German Shepherds because of their size. Then I did some reading up on eastern coyotes. Basically exactly what you posted above. All the more reason not to leave your small even medium size pets outside alone. Cheers, Lucy Goose

The Following User Says Thank You to Lucy Goose For This Useful Post:
Grant (01-05-2011)