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A "coywolf" Photo: forestwander.com via nj,com
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If you have heard that New Jersey has coywolves living here, it's true. But the name coywolf is a new one tagged onto the hybrid animal that is the eastern coyote. The species is not a "coy" (as in shy) wolf, but a hybrid that is mostly coyote. Researchers say they exist in the millions throughout the Northeast, including in NJ.
This cross between a coyote and a wolf used to be considered an eastern coyote, but recent research shows the hybrid name is a more accurate descriptor. Eastern wolves interbred with western coyotes when deforestation and hunting threatened their population. Though coyotes in any form were once unknown in our state, they have spread statewide in the past decade. Their DNA is 65% coyote, 10% dog and 25% wolf, the Economist reported.
The coywolf is about twice the size of a coyote, with larger jaws and bigger muscles that allow it to kill larger prey, such as deer. But coywolves eat pumpkins, watermelons and other garden produce, as well as discarded food, rodents and other small mammals including squirrels and pets.
As with other coyotes, the coywolf has adapted very well to suburban and urban environments. (It is estimated that at least 20 live in New York City.) Urban/suburban habitats offer easy access to trash and easy hunting in areas without underbrush and cover (such as parks, trails and lawns) so that the coywolf needs only half the territory it would require in the countryside. Railway corridors make travel fast and easy. They tend to be more nocturnal in populated areas.
There is some debate in the science community as to whether the coywolf actually has evolved into a distinct species, but the name has traction. NJ.com has called them "New Jersey's apex predator" and they were tagged as the new "superpredators" by Field and Stream magazine.
50 comments:
I did see one this fall. I will in Passaic county in a wooded area. I first I thought it was a dog.
I have a pack of Coywolf living behind my property. They come onto my property all the time to kill my Chickens. They are not small coyote type animals. These are huge. They look more like wolves than coyote. They are taller than my St. Bernard. You can hear them howling in a pack at night. I am actually beginning to worry about them because they are increasing in number fast and could become a danger to livestock, pets and children soon. I live in Wantage, NJ (Sussex County).
Please consier filing a wild report on this - see http://endangerednj.blogspot.com/2017/06/reporting-rare-wildlife-sightings-in-nj.html
Coywolf spotted this morning in Bernardsville. Ran across the street from one neighbor's yard into another yard. Looked similar to a German Shepard but it definitely was not a dog.
Pretty suware that I saw one early evening in Mt. Laurel, NJ. This is the second time I saw one, the first time I was shocked until I looked online.
We have seen approximately 3 killed on 80 in Jersey area
Are these animals dangerous. We had a young man killed by a black bear and yet people don't want to a hunting season. We should be allowed to hunt dangerous predators.
My son and I have heard the howl from one of these around our way (Williamstown in Gloucester County). Just heard it in the very early hours of the morning. The howl is NOT like that of a domesticated dog. It's very distinct, deeper and longer than the domesticated canine.
October 2018 while operating paratransit bus on JFK parkway around Livingston/Milburn,NJ, suddenly slowed, when this animal came out of woods, crossed 150 feet in front, easily jumped over highway divider, and kept going toward aquafier areas. Looked like a German shepherd on steroids.
Several months earlier i saw similar animal standing at a distance at near south end of Eisenhower Parkway, on other side of same area wetlands. Animal did not appear intimidated but rather on lookout.
i believe i just saw one in the ramapo reservation. it looked like a big wolf. when it saw my dog and myself he began to follow
I live in middlesex county on a horse farm. We have them here. There used to be two packs in the woods behind the farm but they were hit with mange and many died off. There is now only one pack (I'm not sure if they merged together to form a pack or if one entire pack was wiped out). There are at least 8 animals. Two years ago there were 4 pups that both yipped and howled. They have killed our chickens, ducks and rabbits. They leave the horses alone.
One ran out of the woods and was running in front of my car on 195-West in Howell Twp (mile marker 29.5) on 1/30/19. I swerved slightly, and it turned and ran back into the woods as quickly as it had run out. There was no impact. I couldn't believe my eyes, but afterwards I recalled seeing carcasses of these animals on 195 several times in the past.
I recorded a pack of them behind my house and put them on youtube. Think i labeled it coywolves pack in nj.
They are everywere. One weight 75 lbs. No bullshit
Just had a run in with a Coywolf last night in my yard, while walking my 2 pitbulls. I live in Rockaway, NJ and I've seen plenty of coyotes before but never a coywolf. We have been having a pack roaming around here this year, and there is this crazy guy on my block who feeds them. Anyways my dogs were acting weird while I was walking them in our yard, I just figured a bear or some deer had wondered through. And I see my one dog stop and stare and the hair line going down her back go up, then as soon as I said alright let's go in boom here comes this big coywolf running through my yard (coming from the direction the guy who feeds them lives) and runs about 20ft from us towards the woods. I screamed, my dogs took off towards it, which made me fall, my fiance comes out and I'm just glad my dogs came back right away(they barely entered the woods I was scares they would of ran into the pack). But what shocked me the most was the size of the coywolf, or was the same size as my one dog who is American pitbull and bull mastiff she weighs 85 lbs, is tall and slim. The coywolf was the same size as her, extremely healthy looking not skinny like most regular coyotes and had a big long beautiful fluffy tail.
Saw one in Hamilton TWP Veterans Park last week. It was huge. Had to be 60-70 lbs and stood as high as a German Sheppard. He saw me and took off. I totally believe you!!
Never even heard about them until i saw one in Trenton NJ. Really in the city. I've seen him/her for the last 4night's at the end of my street....which is a dead end
Same but in Clayton, Gloucester County NJ. I was driving in Clayton towards Williamstown and what I thought was a German Shepherd then realized a WOLF came sprinting across the street with a huge chunk of carcass in his mouth. I nearly hit it with my car. Yes, these guys are pretty big.
I just saw what I believe to be a coywolf after a lot of googling. He was walking around my neighborhood at night. I had noticed that my very, very domestic cat, Baby, was close by wanting to come inside, but all I could hear was his bell and he wouldn't come to the door like he normally does. I noticed a large shape walking into the street light right in front of my fence and immediately realized it was not a dog, way too large, and clearly wasn't a pet anyway. I know all of the neighborhood animals and this one wasn't from around here. As i noticed his muscular shape and crazy color and coat from behind, he turned around and his snout and eyes, and honestly even the shape of his ears, made it clear that this was a very wild animal. I scared him up the street some by yelling at him to shoo, but he kept trying to turn around and come back. The only thing that got him to walk away, not run scared but just walk, was me yelling. I finally found my cat after calling the police. He was hiding under a tree across the street, and he was absolutely shaken. The state police did not find the wolf, but I can't sleep so I will be outside trying to get pictures of him. This is the first I have heard of a coywolf and the more I research the more I am certain that's what I ran into. He was extremely large, at least 55 lbs but probably much bigger. He was white, with some gray accents on his ears, face and tail. I live in Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey, next to Parvins State Park.
I had a coywolf atack my dog in Wantage NJ on Friday 2/21/2020. I thought for sure it was a wolf, I was about 4' away from the animal..I mistook it for a stray Alaskan Malmute...luckily my pittie is a tough nut and escaped relatively unharmed...It was the craziest thing I have ever seen and I grew up here.
I had a coywolf atack my dog in Wantage NJ on Friday 2/21/2020. I thought for sure it was a wolf, I was about 4' away from the animal..I mistook it for a stray Alaskan Malmute...luckily my pittie is a tough nut and escaped relatively unharmed...It was the craziest thing I have ever seen and I grew up here.
I heard a pack of something howling in the woods the other night. Maybe coyotes but could be these creatures. In Basking Ridge.
Saw one in my yard in Montgomery, NJ. Very large and reddish in color.
I work night shift and pass by that area every night. There are most definately all through there, and are much larger than than average mangy coyote I normally see. These are huge, quite beautiful also but here and then I will see them . I worked in pittsgrove off of jesse bridge road, and have seen and heard them, they aren't aggressive but not shy either will walk right through the houses from the woods.
I saw one in Jackson on 571 this morning
I've seen 2 in new egypt over the past 3 weeks. No fear of me or my horses
I saw one in Chatham, NJ while out for a mid-day run. It appeared to be injured as it had a large raw red wound on it’s chest. It ran out of the woods and stopped when it saw me. I backed away and it only pursued me for a few steps before darting back into the woods.
I have positive identification. Of 3 Coywolfs In warren nj stalking me. They are very curious.
I have positive Identification on 3 Coywolfs in Warren County nj. Talking definitely curious of humans..
http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/getinvolved/getwildinside/urban%20coyotes/
I highly rec watching this!
Had an encounter a few weeks ago a friend was walking to his car to leace at about 2 am. It was very dark and upon unlocking the vehicle, the lights picked up a very large canid. He reports seeing the outline and glowing eyes. They seemed to surprise one another and the hybrid simply stared as my friend tried to scare it off. It stood its ground until friend threw something at it, at which point it gracefully turned and disappeared into tge night. This was in Hamilton, nj- by the train station.
About a week later I heard yips and yapping nearby, around the same time.
Have never seen my friend so shaken, he felt threatened by its lack of fear- I will assert that I had thrown stale bread on my lawn and believe the coywolf was hunting or eating when he was surprised by my friend.. And it sounds more likely it was curious more than aggressive.
He reports that it was lean but tall, and had a thick coat.
I think I saw one yesterday. I live in Rockaway NJ. Yesterday morning around 9:30am I saw what I thought was a stray dog walking down the middle of the street but as it got closer it looked more like a wolfe. I swear it looked like the wild dog from the wilderness blue dog commercial. No joke! It was big muscular with very thick fur. He walked between my house and the neighbors house into a wooded area. I know there are deer and a stream in those woods. This is really concerning as it was broad daylight and we have school age children.
Clove Road, Montague, NJ Nature Conservancy Land. Grey Coywolf seen in woods on Wednesday 1/26/21 while looking into woods. Many tracks seen in area for past few days.
Beautiful animal, docile and grand.
I wasn't afraid at all walking in the woods as too the personality of these animals. Seemed kind of shy and to itself. I read they aren't dangerous unless there are little creatures around that seem to stir there interest. I was too big. They are of this land and as humans they have a right to live on it.
Atlantic County, South NJ.
I have seen a coyote (actually a coywolf) a number of times over the last several weeks, most recently 10 minutes ago in broad daylight walking the edge of the woods in my side yard. He is as big as my German Sheppard dog. When I see it my dog (on leash) goes nuts, yet it simply walks away not intimidated at all. At this point I am willing to co-exist, but may start carrying my sidearm. I live on a large property with trails.
Saw one at Round Valley yesterday. Big
They are being reported in backyards in West Windsor in the daylight. That is near Mercer County Park in Hamilton and East Windsor where they are known to live.
The NextDoor website has West Windsor neighbors posting photos and told of a coywolf following dogwalkers or approaching to sniff someone's child (on their lawnchair with headphones on). Child was unaware. In both cases they were hollered at to leave the yard of neighborhood.
I also believe I heard howling at Dam Site 21 last year at sunset (the Pond Run site across old Trenton Road from Mercer County Community College). There was a recent encounter at Van Nest Wildlife Refuge , the northwest corner of Mercer County Park, by a friend who took a great photo of a young, slender coywolf early in the morning. She hoped people would leave it alone.
Just saw a coywolf along the Passaic river behind Willowbrook mall with two pups. I was on the opposite side of river. She was about the size of a Siberian husky….pups looked like they were about 3 or 4 months old!
If you don’t like living near wild animals, move out of the area. There’s no reason to decimate populations of animals to appease you. Ridiculous
Why don’t you keep your cat indoors? It’s against the law to have them outside and your cutting their life short by allowing that.
Exactly, co exist. It doesn’t take much just be intelligent. Leave them alone and don’t leave you small pet outside alone. That goes for Any wildlife. We have eagles and hawk in Vernon too and I would t let any small pet be outside by itself. They kill more pets than the coywolves or foxes in this area
Have one in Woodland Park that will not leave. Assuming it has pups somewhere close.
Just saw one run yard into neighbors. Very large and muscular, honestly was shocked at how large s/he was ! … by Washington’s Crossing NJ
Personally saw two of them in Wharton forest last year, Camden County. Big healthy canines.
One just stopped across my front lawn in Union County, two days ago in broad daylight (2:30 pm). The animal was bright red/orange and around 5 feet long from head to tail, massive from second floor, and just shockingly tall. It turned up to look at me and chitter/yip. It’s open jaws were about an inch longer and wider than my German shepherd’s. I ran to bring my dog inside for her safety (she is 75 lbs and was barking like crazy, but ran inside rather than stay and bark, like she does at most animals). I ran out again to make sure it wasn’t in my backyard, but quickly realized this animal could take me down if it wanted to (5’8, 160 lbs) so I just went back inside. It took me a few days to find a picture and the name after searching “red wolf coyote”. Really good reminder of the wild animals around us, but definitely not as relaxed just stepping outside for now.
Saw what I thought was a coy Wolf wandering in my neighborhood in Minotola, Buena, a couple of weeks ago. The animal looked rather scruffy and I didn't stick around to get a better look. Hurried home with my small dog. Now I read these posts, and have googled for pics of coy wolf's/coyotes, I am more convinced than ever that this was what I saw .
I saw the coywolf in my backyard in central NJ on Sunday April 23rd.. right way I knew that this is not coyote the animal looked much bigger and heavier in weight than a regular coyote
He looked very healthy did not stick around much
We have seen many of them in our backyards at Washington Crossing in Deptford NJ. No problems yet.
I saw a coywolf 2 weeks ago sauntering passed on the wooded right of way behind my house. We were sitting in a gated area in our backyard at dusk. This coywolf was at most 75 feet away and we had about 10 seconds to clearly watch him walk. He was huge, long legs, big Fluffy tail, plush fur coat. Color of a coyote but huge. The right of way is also traveled by our local deer population daily. This coywolf was majestic.
We have a pack living in a wooded area behind our property. Neighbors have seen them hunting in my back field, and I have heard the howling chorus of 5 or 6 "voices" several timed. I've stopped walking my 20 lb. dogs after dark. Of course we also have bears, foxes and all the other regular smaller suspects. We are in Glen Gardner, Hunterdon Co. I saw them regularly when living in High Bridge several years ago.
Saw a pack of 5 all blonde in Tewksbury the other day around 1pm. They moved quickly through the property about 100 ft. away. Sort of a pack march. Went to see where they were headed and by the time I got over there they had vanished.
December 29,2023 I had the pleasure of seeing a western wolf cross Cortyluous Lane in Somerset NJ around 11:30 pm close to midnight. Came out of the service road for the gas and electricity utility comp y and cross the road into an apartment complex. Thin grey puffy tail with black tip. Long legs pointy ears, fast moving. This is an area surrounded by farmland with lots of wildlife. I have seen red fox and many deer, there is a section nearby well know for being a resting place for migrating birds, lots of water ponds and open crop fields, thinking the conditions could be attracting wolves to the area.
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