Watch out, Hoosiers! There’s a new predator afoot. Thirty to forty-five pounds, hungry, mobile, and traveling up to 15 miles per day — coywolves are Indiana’s newest predators!
A quick note on terms — since the early 1900’s, the term ‘coywolf’ has described a hybrid animal from a wolf and a coyote. The mid-2000’s saw the rise of wolf-coyote-dog hybrids across North America. These creatures are widely called ‘coywolves.’ All uses of ‘coywolf’ or ‘coywolves’ in this article refer to the latter. Scientists are still somewhat divided on whether these triple-hybrids are a separate species. These creatures are sometimes referred to as Eastern Coyotes. Those who believe they are separate enough (in terms of genetics and physical characteristics) have coined a new species name, Canis oriens (literally Eastern Canid – the group that includes dogs, foxes, wolves, and coyotes). This name has not caught on yet, due to a number of scientists who do not believe they are a separate species. Through the process of speciation (which includes interbreeding between species, populations changing diets, or geographic separation), new animals are constantly being created through evolution.
One such ‘new’ animal is the ‘coywolf.’ First seen in 2009 in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada, they are a mix between wolves, domestic dogs, and coyotes. They exhibit personality and community traits of each of the three established species. Like dogs, coywolves are unafraid of humans. Like coyotes, coywolves are able to hunt in open areas. And like grey wolves, coywolves are able to hunt in forested areas. Coywolves also hunt in packs like grey wolves. In short, they eat everything and are afraid of nothing.
In many cases, hybrid animals are not fertile, meaning that they are unable to reproduce. This is not the case with coywolves and other hybrid animals of canids (the group that includes dogs, wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Because coywolves can reproduce, it is not necessary for dogs, wolves, and coyotes to be present; however, coywolves can and will mate with each other or any of those groups.
As human civilization has become more ubiquitous, we have strived to keep predators out of our spaces. But in doing this, we have created pressure on animals of all kinds by decreasing their available habitat, food availability, and compressing animal ranges such that there is overlap in more intense ways. This stress oftentimes leads to increased interbreeding, because there are fewer animals to breed with as populations decrease. The goal of every species is to procreate, and so interbreeding is the only option sometimes. This has been observed in many animals, including canids. Coywolves are an interesting byproduct of this stress, because they are not just the product of two species, but three. If a coyote and wolf interbreed, their produced offspring is a combination of coyote and wolf. If that coyote/wolf hybrid then mates with a domesticated dog, either because that dog got loose and left the city or because the coyote-wolf hybrid ventured into a suburban or urban area in search of food, then that third generation is a coywolf, which has genetic heritage from all three species. Its grandparents are a coyote and a wolf (and domestic dogs on the other side of the family), and it’s half-dog. As these animals are all interacting, this process has occurred ad nauseum, creating a more complicated genealogy in which most coywolves have a larger percent of wolf DNA than dog and coyote.
What geographic range do coywolves cover?
Coywolves can be found across North America, including Canada and the US — everywhere from Ontario to Florida.
What are the predators of coywolves?
Their main threat is cars — many coywolves have been hit by cars. Otherwise, competition for resources such as shelter, food, and water with other animals is the main limitation of population growth.
How do you know if you’ve seen a coywolf?
Coywolves are 35-45 pounds, making them bigger than coyotes, smaller than wolves, and about the same weight as a purebred Border Collie. They are nocturnal and omnivorous, eating everything from food waste to cats, rats, and other rodents, and they travel in packs. Whereas coyotes are typically reddish-brown and wolves are whitish-grey, coywolves are whitish-red-tan. Compared to coyotes, coywolves have longer legs, body, and jaws, with smaller ears and a bushier tail. Compared to wolves, coywolves look very similar, but are smaller by 15-20 pounds. Coywolves may also be redder in coloration.
What should you do if you spot a coywolf?
Coywolves were first spotted in Indianapolis in 2018. If you spot a coywolf, wolf, or coyote in Bloomington that is aggressive and/or injured, contact Animal Control at (812) 349-3492. Please leave wildlife handling to experts to avoid contracting any diseases they may have (which include tick-borne diseases). Also, be aware that hurt or sick animals may attack rescuers to protect themselves.
In conclusion, coywolves are established in the North American landscape, and it will be interesting to see how they (and their interactions with other animals and the environment) evolve. The next time you see a coyote, consider whether you just saw North America’s newest predator!
Edited by Chloe Holden and Vaishnavi Muralikrishnan
We have spotted a Cowolf on our property in the Crows Nest area of Indianapolis right on the White river. This has happened twice in the last 10 days.
Greg Glasson
I seen an animal that was trailing a wounded deer that looked like a grey wolf ne’er Roan, Ind, it stopped and howled like a wolf , two yr ago , George Rhoads, Wabash , Ind
I was in Salamonie park today (Apr. 5, 2024), and witnessed a similar situation. Large prints, tracking a deer that seemed to be tracking semi-abnormally. and signs of a large predator were clear, as I was the only person around. Print measured 5-1/8” to 5-1/4”.
I heard a long drwn out howl responding to sirens on the highway one evening….VERY large and powerful animal had to make the sound I could feel it in my chest….coyotes also sounded off but were NOT the same thing….It honestly sounded more like what people have described as a bigfoot howl rather than a canine type howl….Between Wabash and Peru Indiana…
It’s getting to be an everyday thing around Manton Mi. (Northern Michigan) I seen another one tonight on the way to my son’s campsite. This one was darker and had short hair but was definitely in with a pack of coyotes and other coywolfs I assume
At about 1 am, I saw a large white-ish canine from my 2nd story deck a week ago, in central Ohio. He came from a 5 acre grove of trees near us, past the deck on the rear of my house (about 40-50 feet from me) trotting and sniffing the ground as he went. He was bigger – longer and taller – than our neighbors yellow lab that weighs 74 lbs (!) I was glad I was not on the ground nearer to him. We hear the howling periodically. But this seems too big to be a hybrid… right? Then what was/is it? Anyone have an idea?
I saw one in Thornville, Ohio maybe 6-7 years. It was huge! It was walking through a snow covered hill alone.
We saw three in September at Coffin golf course 1st and 8th hole.
We have many Coywolves in the woods by our house. I usually record them almost every night howling and yipping in large groups.
I have several pictures on trail cams in my back yard the first picture i saw of one i thought it was a Grey wolf. It was a beautiful specimen that looked to be in very good health. This is in Lyme, Connecticut.
Two trooted down the street while walking my dog in Trumbull, CT. They’ve been spotted by quiete a few people already, so I knew of their presence, but definitley bigger and more intimidating than your run of the mill coyotes.
I live I. CEDAR Lake Indiana and coming home late one night I spotted what looked like a Coywolf to big to be fox or coyote reddish brown in color fast as it was chasing something when they ran across the road. Beautiful animal but my first thought was if this animal were to venture near my backyard my animals wouldn’t stand a chance against it