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Name This Animal

What kind of canine is this?

buchholz_alexander

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

The face of this animal was almost exactly like a grey wolf but the end of it ears were black which is a feature I've never seen before. The size of this animal was in between a coyote and a wolf. Many people I talked to said it was probably just a dog but it resembled more like a wolf than any dog I've seen. It is definitely part of the Canis genus. If anyone knows what this is help is appreciated.

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Comments (7)

User
9 years ago
Where was the photo taken? Is there any reason to believe you have wolves in the area?

Are the ends of the ears really black, or just in odd light?

Here's a known coyote - note the big pointed ears, relative to the head size, and the skinny muzzle, This one was in AZ in the summer so it's not as fluffy as a coyote in a cold climate.

Your photo's canid has large pointed ears, not the rounded ones of a wolf. I'd say coyote unless you got a good look at the body and movement style.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
Coywolves - a natural cross between coyotes and wolves - are becoming very common across much of the east coast. They are not at all shy, don't fear humans and adapt readily to urban settings. There are reported populations in NYC and Toronto. They look very much like a wolf, only smaller.
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buchholz_alexander
Original Author
9 years ago
The photo was taken in Eastern Massachusetts and I don't believe there are any wolves in the area.

The ears were definitely black. It moved across different lighting and the color did not change.

I have coyotes in the area and have seen them often, but this animal was much bigger than a coyote. This animal was maybe 2-21/2ft tall to the shoulders. Though the coyotes in the area are relatively small.

I can not tell you the movement style because this animal was limping, its right hind leg appeared to be bad pretty badly injured.

Thanks for the help.
Embothrium
9 years ago
Face really looks dog-like to me.
Renee Texas
9 years ago
If it's not a dog, my money's on a dog/couote hybrid (or dog/wolf...whatever you have there).
Sharon McKenzie
9 years ago
Massachusetts is home to the so-called "coy-wolves", hybrids between the coyote and Algonquin wolf of eastern Canada, so this is almost certainly what that animal is. Coy-wolves, also known as Eastern coyotes, are larger than western coyotes and smaller than wolves, and have the combined features of both. Like coyotes, they are much more adaptable to human habitations than wolves, and are found in many Northeastern and upper Midwestern cities, like Boston, Toronto, Detroit, etc. Coy-wolves also do have some domestic dog genes, and this makes their appearance even more variable. See a great documentary on them in the video here:
peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You were right Sharon, what a great documentary. I had knowledge of them but I just learned more while watching. Thank you for posting it.

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