Post by Woody Williams on Jan 28, 2006 21:49:06 GMT -5
From another site..
How wolf-like are Maine coyotes?
Since the late 1930's, people in Maine have noted that coyotes in this state
were different from western coyotes. Maine coyotes are larger, averaging 30
lb. and 35 lb. (female and male, respectively) as compared to 21 lb. and 24
lb for western coyotes, and prey more on deer than coyotes out west.
However, it was the occasional coyote that topped 40 pounds that really
sparked people's curiosity. Were Maine's coyotes just a slightly larger
version of the western coyote or were Maine coyotes the product of
interbreeding between dogs or wolves? Early on, many people thought Maine
coyotes were coydogs (a cross between a domestic dog and a coyote). There
are several lines of evidence that suggest that this explanation doesn't
hold much water. Although coyotes and dogs may breed, the survival of their
offspring is very low. Coydog pups tend to be born in the winter, instead
of in the spring, like coyote pups. In addition, genetic tests indicate
that many of the animals identified as coydogs were just coyotes or dogs,
but not coyote/dog hybrids. Recently, speculation has increased that the
large size and behavior of Maine coyotes may be due to the presence of wolf
genes. It is well known that wolves from eastern Canada have coyote genes
in their genetic make-up, but wolf genes had not been found in Maine
coyotes.
Last winter, Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW)
undertook a genetic study to clarify whether Maine's coyotes are true
coyotes or coyote/wolf hybrids, and to determine whether our coyotes can be
distinguished from eastern Canadian wolves. Cooperating in this effort is
Dr. Paul Wilson, Trent University, who is one of the leading experts on wolf
genetics. Information from this research will help our Department better
understand how to approach enforcement issues concerning the incidental
killing of wolves by trappers or snarers, and may give insight to the
behavior of our coyotes (e.g., their reliance on deer, their potential for
preying on moose, and pack formation). At the same time, this research will
be an essential step in determining whether it is feasible to recover wolves
in Maine and the rest of the Northeast.
A total of 108 coyotes were purchased from snarers and hunters for the study
last winter. These animals were photographed and measured to document the
physical appearance, size, and skull characteristics. Female coyote weights
ranged from 20 to 35 pounds and averaged 30 pounds. There was a greater
spread in weights for male coyotes. The smallest male coyote weighed 22
pounds, while the largest male weighed 47 pounds. As in past studies, male
coyotes averaged 35 pounds in weight.
Preliminary genetic results indicate that coyotes in Maine may be grouped
into three categories. Most of Maine's coyotes appear to be similar to the
eastern coyotes found in New Brunswick and New York. Previous, research on
coyotes from New Brunswick and New York, by Dr. Wilson, indicates the
presence of some genes that are frequently found in wolves from eastern
Canada. The second group of coyotes appears to have a genetic make-up
similar to western coyotes. This group only made up a small proportion of
coyotes collected in our sample. Recent anecdotal reports indicate that
smaller, more western-like coyotes are increasingly being caught in the
northeast. The presence of western-like coyotes in Maine's coyote
population may just indicate a normal mixing of coyotes from western states
with eastern coyote populations. The third group appears to be similar to
animals commonly referred to as tweed wolves in Canada. Again, this group
of coyotes only made up a small proportion of our sample. Tweed wolves are
technically considered eastern coyotes, but have more wolf-like
characteristics than the average coyote. We continue to analyze data from
this project. Specific results from this study will be submitted to a
scientific journal for publication.
Article Written by:
Wally Jakubas, Mammal Group Leader,
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
How wolf-like are Maine coyotes?
Since the late 1930's, people in Maine have noted that coyotes in this state
were different from western coyotes. Maine coyotes are larger, averaging 30
lb. and 35 lb. (female and male, respectively) as compared to 21 lb. and 24
lb for western coyotes, and prey more on deer than coyotes out west.
However, it was the occasional coyote that topped 40 pounds that really
sparked people's curiosity. Were Maine's coyotes just a slightly larger
version of the western coyote or were Maine coyotes the product of
interbreeding between dogs or wolves? Early on, many people thought Maine
coyotes were coydogs (a cross between a domestic dog and a coyote). There
are several lines of evidence that suggest that this explanation doesn't
hold much water. Although coyotes and dogs may breed, the survival of their
offspring is very low. Coydog pups tend to be born in the winter, instead
of in the spring, like coyote pups. In addition, genetic tests indicate
that many of the animals identified as coydogs were just coyotes or dogs,
but not coyote/dog hybrids. Recently, speculation has increased that the
large size and behavior of Maine coyotes may be due to the presence of wolf
genes. It is well known that wolves from eastern Canada have coyote genes
in their genetic make-up, but wolf genes had not been found in Maine
coyotes.
Last winter, Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW)
undertook a genetic study to clarify whether Maine's coyotes are true
coyotes or coyote/wolf hybrids, and to determine whether our coyotes can be
distinguished from eastern Canadian wolves. Cooperating in this effort is
Dr. Paul Wilson, Trent University, who is one of the leading experts on wolf
genetics. Information from this research will help our Department better
understand how to approach enforcement issues concerning the incidental
killing of wolves by trappers or snarers, and may give insight to the
behavior of our coyotes (e.g., their reliance on deer, their potential for
preying on moose, and pack formation). At the same time, this research will
be an essential step in determining whether it is feasible to recover wolves
in Maine and the rest of the Northeast.
A total of 108 coyotes were purchased from snarers and hunters for the study
last winter. These animals were photographed and measured to document the
physical appearance, size, and skull characteristics. Female coyote weights
ranged from 20 to 35 pounds and averaged 30 pounds. There was a greater
spread in weights for male coyotes. The smallest male coyote weighed 22
pounds, while the largest male weighed 47 pounds. As in past studies, male
coyotes averaged 35 pounds in weight.
Preliminary genetic results indicate that coyotes in Maine may be grouped
into three categories. Most of Maine's coyotes appear to be similar to the
eastern coyotes found in New Brunswick and New York. Previous, research on
coyotes from New Brunswick and New York, by Dr. Wilson, indicates the
presence of some genes that are frequently found in wolves from eastern
Canada. The second group of coyotes appears to have a genetic make-up
similar to western coyotes. This group only made up a small proportion of
coyotes collected in our sample. Recent anecdotal reports indicate that
smaller, more western-like coyotes are increasingly being caught in the
northeast. The presence of western-like coyotes in Maine's coyote
population may just indicate a normal mixing of coyotes from western states
with eastern coyote populations. The third group appears to be similar to
animals commonly referred to as tweed wolves in Canada. Again, this group
of coyotes only made up a small proportion of our sample. Tweed wolves are
technically considered eastern coyotes, but have more wolf-like
characteristics than the average coyote. We continue to analyze data from
this project. Specific results from this study will be submitted to a
scientific journal for publication.
Article Written by:
Wally Jakubas, Mammal Group Leader,
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
