Eastern coyotes are essentially a hybrid of the little wiley coyotes of the southwest and Canadian wolves. Frequently underestimated is terms of size. I’ve got trail cam pics of them where you argue whether over whether it’s a coyote or wolf based on ear shape and butt size. Whatever they might be, they’re bigger than most German Shepards, which is bigger than many folk would tell you Eastern Coyotes are.
All over the Northeast there are "No Hunting" counties where the deer population has just exploded. Some nights literally dozens are maimed and killed on the roads, and many struggle off to die in the woods.
Nature abhors a vacuum. Enter the coyote, coy dogs, those BIG Wolf/Coyote hybrids, and every once in a while, the elusive puma. Not too proud to feast on carrion, these guys can run down a deer quite efficiently, too! Even black bears are in it for the leftovers! Badgers, wolverines, vultures ... having a field day and picnic, thank you!
Nature red in fang and claw. If you doubt my naturalist bonafides, here's how I can prove my theory. If there's a Democrat in your neighborhood, trap him, truss him, smear him with bacon fat, and use him as bait for your trail cam. Check the camera daily. Your fatter Democrats can often be put out for 2 or 3 nights. For wolverines and such, the riper the better.
Back about 1990 I stopped along a highway on the Mass/Conn. border to check what appeared to be a dead dog in the road. My 120lb Shepherd was banging up against the sides of my pick up when I stepped out and approached the “dog”. Turned out to be a fat coyote better than sixty pounds I would guess. He must have had a nice life raiding garbage cans and chowing down cats all along the Connecticut River prior to being smacked on the highway. As I hauled his sorry ass off to the side of the road I recall thinking “man this is one big coyote” while my dog roared at me and him from the truck.