Wolf or Coyote?Know the Differences

USF

WS

AG

FD

Coyote (Canis latrans)• Noseisslenderandpointed

• Earsareprominent,pointedandrelativelylong

• Furcolorisverysimilartowolves:grizzledgray,rustorbuff;rarelywhiteorblack

• Legsandfeetaresmaller,moredelicate

• Weighs20–35pounds

• Usuallydisplaysskittishbehavior,tendstofleeimmediately

• Frontpawis21/2incheslongby2incheswide

Description: Coyotesareonthesmallside,weigh-inglessthan35pounds.Anadultmeasuresabout21inchestallattheshoulder,withatotallengthofupto49inches.Thecoyotelooksmuchlikeashepherddog,thepelagebeingratherlong,heavyandoftenpresent-ingashaggyorgrizzledappearance.Thefurisreddishortawnygray,sometimestippedwithblack.Thetailislargeandverybushy.Earsareupright,andtheslendermuzzleissharplypointed.Seasonalcolorvariationisconsiderableamongcoyotes,andimmaturepelageisgrayeranddullerthanthatofanadult.

Habitat:Allhabitatsareoccupied,fromlowdeserttomontaneforestandwoodland,butthecoyotetendstoavoidthicklyforested,highelevationareas.

Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)• Noseisbroadandblocky

• Earsaremoreroundedandrelativelyshort

• Furcolorisverysimilartocoyotes:grizzledgray,black,rustorbuff;notallwhiteorallblack

• Legsarelonger,givingwolvesamorelankyappearance;feetarelarger

• Weighs50–80pounds

• Sometimesdisplayscuriousbehaviorandmaynotfleeasquickly

• Notallwolveshaveradiocollars

• Frontpawis41/2incheslongby31/2incheswide

Description:Smallerthananortherngraywolfbutlargerthanacoyote.Adultsare70–80poundsand30inchesattheshoulder.Adultsare5–5.5feetlong,includinga14-to17-inchtail.Malesarelargerthanfemales.Headandfeetarelargeinproportiontobody.Small,erectearswithwidetuftsofhairthatgrowoutanddownareoneoftheMexicanwolf’smostdistinc-tivefeatures.Bodycolorisoftenmottledorpatchy,varyingfromgrayandblacktobrownandbuff.

Habitat: Mid-tohigh-elevationwoodlands,includingoak,pinyonpine,juniper,ponderosapineandmixedconiferforests.AlmostallhistoricalrecordsofMexicanwolvesinArizonaoccurredabove4,500feetineleva-tion.Habitatmustcontainlargeungulatepreyanimalsforwolvestothrive.