Wild canids like coyotes and wolves roam North America, sharing some characteristics as members of the dog family. While they belong to the same biological family, they exhibit distinct differences in their physical traits, preferred environments, social behaviors, and feeding habits. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify their roles in various ecosystems.
Physical Distinctions
Wolves appear more robust and larger than coyotes. An adult gray wolf stands between 66 to 84 centimeters (26 to 33 inches) at the shoulder and measures 1.4 to 2.0 meters (4.5 to 6.5 feet) long, including its tail. Their weight can range from 32 to 65 kilograms (70 to 145 pounds) for males and 27 to 45 kilograms (60 to 100 pounds) for females. In contrast, coyotes are more slender, with an average shoulder height of about 60 centimeters (24 inches) and a total length of 1.0 to 1.35 meters (3 feet 3 inches to 4 feet 5 inches). Male coyotes weigh between 8 to 20 kilograms (18 to 44 pounds), while females are 7 to 18 kilograms (15 to 40 pounds).
Differences are also evident in their fur and facial features. Coyote fur is grizzled, predominantly light gray and reddish or fulvous. Their fur is dense and coarse. Wolves exhibit a broader spectrum of coat colors, including various shades of gray, brown, cinnamon, and black, and can even be pure white in some Arctic populations. They possess a dense, thick underfur, providing insulation in colder climates.
Further distinctions are visible in their head and tail. Coyotes have a narrow, pointed muzzle and large, pointed ears. Their bushy tails are carried downwards or between their legs, especially when moving. Wolves have a broader, more blocky muzzle and shorter, more rounded ears. Their tails are also bushy but carried horizontally or straight out rather than tucked.
Habitat and Geographic Range
Coyotes exhibit remarkable adaptability throughout North and Central America. Their range extends from Alaska down to Panama, encompassing diverse landscapes such as forests, grasslands, deserts, and swamps. They are particularly successful in coexisting with humans, inhabiting suburban and even urban areas.
In contrast, wolves favor expansive wilderness and remote regions. Historically, their distribution spanned much of the Northern Hemisphere, but human activities have significantly reduced their range. In North America, substantial wolf populations are concentrated in Canada and Alaska, along with pockets in the Northern Rockies, including Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, and the Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
While these two canids prefer different environments, their ranges can overlap. Wolves exclude coyotes from their territories due to interspecies competition. However, in some areas, coyotes may venture closer to wolf habitats.
Behavioral and Social Patterns
Wolves are highly social animals that live in well-defined packs. These packs consist of a breeding pair along with their offspring from previous years. Pack sizes can vary, ranging from a few individuals to twenty or more, influenced by prey availability and environmental conditions. This social structure allows for cooperative hunting and the raising of young.
Coyotes, while social, exhibit more flexible social patterns compared to wolves. They hunt alone or in pairs, though they may form temporary family groups or small packs, especially when raising pups or pursuing larger prey. Their social organization can adapt based on resource availability, with larger groups forming where food is abundant.
Distinctive vocalizations set them apart. Wolves are recognized for their long, drawn-out howls, which serve as long-distance communication, helping pack members locate each other and assert territorial boundaries. They use barks, growls, and whimpers for closer communication. Coyotes, conversely, are known for their characteristic high-pitched yips, barks, and shorter howls. This vocal repertoire can create an “auditory illusion,” making a small number of coyotes sound like a much larger group, and is used for bonding and territorial display.
Regarding activity, both species can be active at various times, but exhibit crepuscular patterns. Wolves may adjust their activity to become more nocturnal in areas with significant human presence, minimizing encounters. Coyotes shift their activity to nighttime in urban environments to avoid human interaction, while they might be more visible during the day in remote areas.
Dietary Habits
Coyotes display an adaptable and opportunistic omnivorous diet. Their food sources include small mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and hares. They consume birds, insects, fruits, and plant matter. Coyotes readily scavenge on carrion and can adapt to human-altered environments by consuming garbage or pet food.
In contrast, wolves function as apex predators with a carnivorous diet. Their prey consists of large ungulates, which are hoofed mammals like deer, elk, moose, and caribou. Wolves hunt these animals cooperatively in packs. While large prey forms the bulk of their diet, they will consume smaller animals, fish, or carrion when larger prey is less available.
Understanding Hybrids
In regions where the geographic ranges of wolves and coyotes converge, interbreeding can occur. This genetic exchange has led to the emergence of hybrid canids, “coywolves” or Eastern coyotes. These animals represent a blend of genetic material from coyotes and wolves, and in some cases, domestic dogs.
These hybrids exhibit a combination of traits from their parent species. They are larger than pure coyotes, weighing between 13.6 to 25 kilograms (30 to 55 pounds), but remain smaller than most wolves. Physically, coywolves may display a larger jaw, proportionally smaller ears, longer legs, and a bushier tail compared to Western coyotes. Their vocalizations can be a mix, starting with a deep, wolf-like howl that transitions into higher-pitched coyote yips.
Genetic studies reveal the complex ancestry of these Eastern coyotes. Their genetic makeup is 60 to 64 percent Western coyote, with contributions from Eastern and Gray wolves ranging from 11 to 30 percent, and domestic dog DNA 5 to 15 percent. This diverse genetic background contributes to their adaptive success.
The behavioral patterns of these hybrids reflect their mixed lineage. They may engage in wolf-like pack hunting behaviors, enabling them to take down larger prey such as deer, a capability less common for pure coyotes. Concurrently, they retain the coyote’s adaptability. The presence of these fertile hybrids can complicate visual identification, as their characteristics blur the traditional distinctions between coyotes and wolves.