The difference between these animals

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Vaseline

It’s easy to understand how people might confuse the two. Therefore, scientists sometimes have to step in and verify the difference between coyotes and wolves.

Source: Getty Images

A case of mistaken identity can be a fun and fantastic plot point, both on screen and on the page, because of the amount of drama it can cause. However, mistaken identity can have serious consequences when it comes to the animal kingdom. Confusing two animals could lead to an entire team of scientists opening an investigation – as they did when ‘wolves’ were suddenly spotted in an area where they don’t normally roam.

Article continues below advertisement

And while it’s not that easy to confuse a tiger and a tiger shark, even the professionals get it wrong with more similar species, such as when it comes to coyotes and wolves. Keep reading to learn more, including about the wild goose hunt a group of scientists went on in 2024 when they thought they were on the trail of a trio of rare wolves.

A pack of three timber wolves sitting on a rock, with one wolf in the foreground howling. — Source: Getty Images

Article continues below advertisement

DNA testing was used to confirm that Nevada wolves were actually coyotes.

A helicopter crew flying over a ranch in Nevada’s rural Merritt Mountains thought they were seeing a piece of history in the making when they saw what they saw. thought According to CBS News. Observers became excited because the last confirmed wolf sighting occurred in 2017, marking the first time a wolf was documented in Nevada in nearly a century.

Article continues below advertisement

That may seem like a big fuss for such a small group of potential wolves, but ABC news reports that the experts were eager to get a definitive answer about the dogs’ DNA as they tried to figure out why so many elk had crossed state lines. Nevada had seen an influx of horned visitors since 2018, and they thought hunting wolves could be the cause of the situation.

Article continues below advertisement

Unfortunately for local wolf enthusiasts, the canines in question turned out to be coyotes, a wild animal that is still quite common in the desert state. According to the Sierra Nevada Ally, there are an estimated 55,000 to 110,000 coyotes (which equates to 0.5 to 1 coyote per square mile) within state lines!

Article continues below advertisement

Coyote vs Wolf: The Difference Between These Two Animals.

If you don’t have access to an independent laboratory to conduct a rigorous examination, arm yourself with these basic facts to help you tell the difference between a coyote and a wolf. First, wolves are known to be larger than coyotes and have smaller ears and blockier heads Living outside magazine. Not only that, but their legs and paws are also larger.

While adult wolves are undeniably larger than coyotes, size isn’t the only difference. You may be able to tell the difference between the two based on color alone, as wolves can be reddish, black, white, or buff in color, while coyote fur does not vary too much and tends to be between brown and black . And of course there is also their diet. Although wolves are known for hunting their prey, coyotes tend to be more scavengers than anything else.

That said, you wouldn’t want to wait until feeding time to determine whether you’re dealing with a wolf or a coyote. Luckily, with all these details, it should be easy enough to tell before you get that close!