Something killed and devoured a deer in my yard last night. Thought it was coyotes, but they don't decapitate... coywolves, actual wolves? What could have done this..... (Northern Vermont)DaddyBobMN t1_iuilw4e wrote
Reply to comment by Treestyles in Something killed and devoured a deer in my yard last night. Thought it was coyotes, but they don't decapitate... coywolves, actual wolves? What could have done this..... (Northern Vermont) by WheezeThaJuice
65/25/10 or therabouts seems to be what studies have found.
It's interesting that there may be a correlation between habitat and genetic admixture based on prey size. Eastern coyotes in more settled or urban habitats of New England have tended to be smaller, like a coyote, and show less wolf DNA in their lineage. Those in more remote habitats, especially where large populations of deer are found, are often larger and this is most likely due to the greater percentage of wolf genetics in their makeup.
So in effect there are two distinct groups of hybrids developing in the northeast over time.
Overall it's a fascinating subject for someone like me with a background in wildlife ecology and evolutionary biology. I am jealous of the folks who get to study stuff like this for a living.
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