You both live in Eastern Coyote territory. Years ago, I read a study done in New Hampshire that found the eastern coyote was a hybrid of the Eastern Timberwolf and western coyote. These coyotes vary in size and have been reported up to 80lbs. I’m guessing that the ratio of coyote to wolf in any given population depends on the prey species for that area. If they’re preying on adult deer that suggests more wolf than coyote.
BTW genus Canis will speciate through hybridization. It’s not a new observation for this genus.
BTW genus Canis will speciate through hybridization. It’s not a new observation for this genus.
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My husband went beyond the old stone wall at the back of our property last week and found bear scat. We have had a black bear visiting our front yard, and finally gave up on our bird feeders.
We live in central MA, cradle of freedom, on five acres that backs up to hundreds of acres of privately owned, wooded land. Most of our land is wooded and untouched, at least by us. We have a six foot chain link fence around about a quarter acre of our back "yard", for our dogs.
The coyotes that I have seen are bigger than foxes and have somewhat long legs. I always that the coyotes were just a little bigger than foxes. The animal officers in town tell people to just keep away from them and they will not harm you.