Distinguishing between a wolf and a coyote can be challenging due to their shared ancestry within the Canis genus. However, these two canids possess unique characteristics that allow for clear differentiation. Understanding these distinctions in physical appearance, vocalizations, tracks, and behaviors is key to accurate identification in the wild.
Key Physical Distinctions
Wolves are significantly larger and more robust than coyotes, typically weighing between 70 to 150 pounds and standing 26-32 inches at the shoulder. Coyotes are much smaller, usually weighing 20-50 pounds and standing around 21-24 inches at the shoulder, with a more slender build. A wolf’s overall build appears powerful with a broad chest, while a coyote’s body is narrower and more tapered.
Head shape provides another distinguishing feature. Wolves have broader snouts and larger, blockier heads with shorter, more rounded ears. Coyotes, in contrast, have narrower, more pointed snouts and relatively larger, more prominent ears that are often pointed.
Wolves can display a wider range of fur colors, including gray, brown, black, white, or red, often with thicker coats. Coyote coats are generally a mix of grays and browns and are typically thinner. A wolf’s tail is often bushy and carried lower, while a coyote’s tail is thinner, often has a black tip, and is frequently carried between its legs when running. Wolves also possess longer legs and noticeably larger paws compared to coyotes, which have more compact bodies and relatively shorter legs.
Distinct Vocalizations
The sounds made by wolves and coyotes offer another way to tell them apart. Wolves are known for their deep, sustained howls, which they use for long-distance communication and to reinforce social bonds within their pack. These low-pitched howls can carry for several miles.
Coyote vocalizations are higher-pitched, shorter in duration, and often include a complex mix of yips, barks, and yelps. This “yipping chorus” can create the impression of many animals, even if only a few coyotes are present. Unlike wolf howls, coyote calls are more varied and do not travel as far.
Tracking and Sign
Observing tracks and other signs left behind can also help identify these canids. Wolf tracks are significantly larger than coyote tracks, typically measuring 4-5 inches long, compared to coyote tracks which are about 2-3.5 inches long. Both species leave four symmetrical toe prints with visible claw marks, but a wolf’s toes may appear more splayed. Wolf tracks also tend to follow a more direct, straight line, reflecting an energy-efficient gait.
Scat, or feces, provides further clues. Wolf scat is larger, often 4-7 inches long and over an inch in diameter, and frequently contains hair, bone fragments, and other remains from large prey animals. Coyote scat is generally smaller and narrower, typically containing remnants of smaller mammals, berries, or insects, reflecting their more varied diet.
Habitat and Lifestyle Differences
Their differing habitat preferences and social structures can also aid in identification. Wolves typically prefer remote wilderness areas, such as forests, tundra, and mountainous regions, where human disturbance is minimal.
Coyotes are highly adaptable and thrive in a wider range of environments, including forests, prairies, deserts, and increasingly, suburban and urban areas. While wolves live in tightly-knit packs of 5-12 individuals with complex social hierarchies, coyotes are often solitary or live in smaller family groups of up to six adults. They exhibit flexible social behavior, forming loose groups when resources are abundant but often reverting to a solitary lifestyle when scarce.