When was the last time THIS has happened…in Arizona no less? Local fly club had an overnight outing at Cyclone lake in AZ. Camped out for first time in decades. 1:30a wife had to go to porta john on the lake. A lone wolf commenced howling and barking just across the cove from us! Then the pack much further up the canyon began barking and yelling back to him. He sounded so close I shined the spotlite across the cove and we saw him trot out of sight…from a broadside view. Looked silvery and big like a german shepherd on steroids! I think we, my wife and I surprised and disturbed them and started it all. I don’t know anything about wolves…was he the lead hunter or something? He was not with the pack but they were communicating like a disturbed covey of quail calling to each other to regroup. I wonder? I didn’t think anyone would beleive me the next morning but all were saying wow…did you guys hear those wolves last night? So quite a fun deal.
Back here in the East, I observed a coyote take down a fawn in the Delaware Water Gap, and then carry it off – it was last August, so the fawn wasn’t all that small.
I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first, because I thought that animal was way too big to be a coyote. But after researching it a bit, I decided that the animal was probably at the upper end of the size range for a coyote (maybe 50 pounds). He was in great shape, and based on how quickly he dispatched the fawn, an experienced hunter.
You’ve probably heard of the urban coyote phenomenon. And despite stereotypes, a lot of New Jersey isn’t all that urban – we still hunt deer and turkey here.
The coyotes are doing great, and are heard singing at night all the time (not at my house, though).
The Coyotes I grew up seeing in Connecticut are much bigger than the Coyotes I have seen in other parts of the country. One theory is that the Coyotes that came down from Canada and repopulated New England and the east actually crossbred with Wolves at some point which explains the size and the wolf-like behavior they exhibit. It wasn’t until I moved to Texas that I saw what were true COyotes. They were much smaller and had more fragile body shapes. Even the Coyotes I saw in Minnesota were smaller than the Coyotes I’ve seen in New England.
Just sends a shiver up your spine to hear that eh !!
A friend takes toursits out into the provicial park here (at midnight) and calls to the wolves. They call back.
I asked him how he got the idea. He explained that one night caming, … he was sort of messing with his girlfriend’s head and called out from the camp fire. A wolf called back from less than 2 miles away. Scared him ***tless at the time.
POJ
Amungst a pack of wolves there would be a leader or The “Alpha” Male. He runs the show. I don’t know if this hold true for 'yotes? It probably does.
There is more and more evidence that Michigan’s “Tip of the Mitt” has a growing wolf population
I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!
I was at Cyclone over the Memorial Day week-end with my fly club (AFC). We heard Coyotes during the night about a mile off I would say. I had my Golden Retriever, Lancaster (Therapy Dog by vocation and nature) with me. When the Yotes started up, ol’ Lancaster decided that the best thing he could do to “protect” me would be to leave his sleeping pad on the other side of the tent and try to get into my sleeping bag with me.
Needless to say, he didn’t fit and finally the Coyotes stoped their singing so we both could go back to sleep.
PLJ, which “local fly club” are you referring to? Pinetop Bob’s (as we call hime down here in the Valley)?
Snow on the roof but with fire still in the hearth
It’s good to see that a restoration program for an endagered, perhaps extinct in the wild, species worked. The Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Project is only about 7 years old.
Well, it does sound like a wolf to me as I have seen them in the wild. I live in Oklahoma and they say we don’t have them here but I was fishing once in a secluded area when I noticed a huge dog and I mean probably 150lbs to 170lbs run down a large cow. I watched from maybe 60 yards away as the dog took the cow down. This animal was no coyote. It pounced like a cat on top of the cow and had it by the troat. It was very grewsome. It also worked alone so I figure maybe somebody had a half breed Wolf or maybe a full blooded timber wolf and it got away. Anyways, I have heard from friends that live in the area about them seeing the same thing. If it’s not a Wolf then it’s one hella German Sheppard that is wild and takes down large prey.
We have coyote in Indiana and do they howl in the evening. I have wet lands at both ends of my land and their brave enough to play in my back yard at times. As long as they keep the rabits out of my garden I’ll put up with them for a while.
If it was a wolf, you are very lucky to have seen it. There is probably some group that advocates for them in AZ that would like to know about your sighting.
I have seen and heard coyotes all my life. I have them here where where I live. When they get too close at night and cause my dogs to bark too much, I turn on the outside lights and the coyotes go away. Thanks to those who believed me. If you want to talk to a few of the men who have been in conservation and were at the camp I can hook you up. Trust me…I know what a coyote looks like and sounds like. My wife saw the wolf as well. This is no joke. The moment you hear this you would know it wasn’t coyotes. They don’t even sound like this, they don’t even have this deep of voice sound. I don’t need the fame of telling a story. Yes they are in the Mexican Grey Wolf restoration area. Furthermore just up the road from where I live…about 8 miles the otherd day’s newspaper article…police and game and fish are looking for the person who shot and killed a wolf which was feeding on an elk on the side of the road…to prosecute the person. Buy anywhoo…thanks Miky and Joe and FCCH and all. Yeah…you know it…it is not that difficult to know when you are looking at a wolf and a coyote. Not even close. Ya just had to be there. I can understand the coyote idea but not a ghost of a chance. It is what it is man. From an old desert rat that has killed many a rattler and have a few stories about that rascal, trust me I know the difference. Thanks again guys for the trust.
Ole Jim, and the others who have heard both song dogs, and wolves, there is a very distinct difference in the songs. The gray wolves that were introduced to Yellowstone are taking over our state and have already made a major dent in the moose population.And to top it off, they are the WRONG wolf for Wyoming!!! We had the Prairie and red timber wolves! They both ran in smaller packs and were a lot less destructive.
I’ll get off my soapbox, and add that I belive you know the difference from the sound of the songs, I like listening to the yotes, wolves send shivers up my spine.
Wyo-blizzard
[This message has been edited by Byron Zuehlsdorff (edited 28 June 2005).]
Will have to do some research on that one!
Will let you know as soon as I find out.
Okay, the buffalo wolf is the same as the prairie wolf which is a subspecies of the gray wolf. The prairie wolf has smaller packs, and usually claimes a larger area as it’s territory,as game is harder to find, and faster, on the plains. Hope this helps LF. ------------------
Wyo-blizzard
[This message has been edited by Byron Zuehlsdorff (edited 28 June 2005).]
