The presence of wolves in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania is a frequent inquiry, stemming from general interest in local ecosystems. This article explores the reality of wolf populations in the Poconos.
Historical Presence in the Region
Hundreds of years ago, before European settlement, gray wolves (Canis lupus) were prevalent across Pennsylvania and much of the United States. These apex predators played a significant role in the ecosystem, preying on large mammals such as deer, elk, and bison.
As settlers expanded westward, wolf populations began to decline due to habitat destruction, dwindling food sources, and conflicts with livestock. Intensive hunting, trapping, and government-sponsored extermination efforts, often involving bounties, led to their systematic removal. The last wild wolf in Pennsylvania is recorded to have died in 1892. By the early 1900s, gray wolves were locally extirpated from the state.
Current Wild Canid Populations
There are no established wild wolf populations in the Poconos or anywhere else in Pennsylvania today. Wolf sightings are typically misidentifications of other wild canids or escaped captive animals. The primary wild canids inhabiting the Poconos are coyotes and eastern coyotes, often called “coywolves.”
Coyotes began expanding their range eastward from the western United States in the early 20th century, reaching Pennsylvania by the 1940s. By the 1970s, the Pocono Mountains had a notable coyote population, which spread throughout the state by the 1990s. Eastern coyotes are larger than their western counterparts, with adult males in Pennsylvania typically weighing between 45 to 55 pounds and females 35 to 40 pounds. This increased size is attributed to historical interbreeding with wolves and domestic dogs, resulting in a hybrid known as a coywolf. These adaptable animals have filled the ecological niche once occupied by wolves, serving as the region’s top canid species and preying on smaller game, though they can also target deer.
Identifying Local Canids
Distinguishing coyotes, coywolves, and wolves involves specific physical and behavioral characteristics. Wolves are significantly larger, typically weighing 80 to 120 pounds, compared to coyotes at 20 to 50 pounds. Coywolves fall between, often weighing 35 to 45 pounds. Wolves also have a blockier head, shorter muzzles, shorter, more rounded ears, and proportionally longer legs, making them appear lanky.
In contrast, coyotes have a more fox-like build with a pointed muzzle and longer, more triangular ears. Their bodies appear more compact, and their tails typically hang downward when running, unlike a wolf’s tail which is held straight. Coywolves often display a mix of these features, possessing a larger jaw and bushier tail than a coyote, but with ears that are less pointed than a coyote’s and a more robust body. While wolves are known for deep, resonant howls, coyotes produce higher-pitched yips, barks, and shorter howls.