WOLF SPECIES: Eastern wolf, Algonquin wolf, Canis lupus lycaon ORIGIN: The eastern wolf is closely related to the red wolf, a species that was once commonly found in the United States. RANGE: The eastern wolf can be found throughout most of Ontario and southern Quebec. Algonquin Park is the largest protected area and the place where the largest population of eastern wolves can be now be found. The Ontario government says there are about 2,000 eastern wolves living across Ontario and Quebec. HABITAT: The eastern wolves use a wide variety of habitats but they prefer large areas of consistent forest. BEHAVIOUR: Eastern wolves are one of very few animals that are monogamous their whole life. They live in small packs, a mated pair and offspring. They make large territories (about 150 km) and travel constantly in search of food, often up to 20 km a day. Wolves howl to communicate with one another. Eastern wolves are the only type of wolf that can successfully breed with western coyotes to create offspring. SIZE: Eastern wolves average around 55-65 pounds. They have an average height of 25-50 metres. DIET: The eastern wolf is use to hunting large prey with powerful jaws and teeth that are the same as the grey wolf. They feed on deer, moose, beaver and muskrats. LIFE SPAN: Wolves average life span in the wild is 6 - 8 years. The eastern wolf has few predators. The main threat to them are humans, bears and other wolves.
COYWOLF
SPECIES: Coywolf, Eastern coyote, Canis latrans x Canis lupus lycaon ORIGIN: The coywolf originated recently, it is a hybrid version. RANGE: In Canada, coywolves (which also go by the name eastern coyotes) are flourishing in southern Ontario, Quebec and throughout the Maritime provinces. They can also be found all along the northeastern of the U.S from New York to New Hampshire and even into Rhode Island. Their terrorities range from 20 - 40 square kilometres in the countryside and can be as small as 5-8 square kilometres in cities. HABITAT: Coywolves prefer edge habitats in agricultural, suburban and urban areas. For most of the year, coywolves live in dens. In the winter, they use their dens for refuge from the elements. Summer dens are used for 6-8 weeks of the year when the pups are born. Females retreat to the dens a few days before giving birth and the young remain in or near the den for the first 6- 8 weeks of their life. BEHAVIOUR: Coywolves, like western coyotes, are much more comfortable living in closer proximity to people than wolves are. Still, most people rarely see them. These creatures have mastered the art of going about their business without being seen. We are more likely to hear them nearby. In the country the call and answer of coywolves keeping a check on each other is a common sound and in the city fire engine sirens and train whistles are known to set them howling in response. SIZE: Coywolves generally weigh anywhere from 14-18 kilograms and are 40 to 60 inches long. Male coywolves tend to be larger than females. Their thick coats, long legs and bushy tails often give them a wolf-like appearance that causes them to be mistaken for much larger animals. DIET: Coywolves are omnivores. They're opportunistic hunters who will feed on everything from berries and seeds to small mammals like mice, voles, squirrels and rabbits. Their large jaw structure allows them to hunt larger mammals like deer, which in spring, is the main thing they eat. In the city, they will eat garbage, fruit or vegetables and sometimes small outdoor pets. LIFE SPAN: A wild coywolf in an urban area has a life span of 3-5 years. In a protected area, it's suspected that they can live longer but no confirmed scientific data is available. Humans through hunting, trapping and vehicle collisions have the greatest threat to the coywolf.
COYOTE SPECIES: Western coyote, Canis latrans (means barking dog) ORIGIN: Evidence suggests that the coyote evolved 1.8 million years ago alongside the dire wolf, which is now extinct. RANGE: The coyote is found throughout north and central America. Unlike wolves, their range has increased over the last 300 years with the expansion of urbanization. They live in both the countryside and cities. There are estimated to be 2,000 coyotes living in and around the Chicago area. They have small territories compared to wolves which are about 20 square kilometres in rural areas and as small as 5 square kilometres in cities. BEHAVIOUR: Some scientists say coyotes are one of the most adaptive mammals on the planet and this has led to their successful changing of new territories in the last 100 years. SIZE: Western coyotes weigh in at 20-30 pounds and are about 40 inches long. They typically are the size of a small to medium sized dog. PHYSICAL FEATURES: DIET: Coyotes have a very adaptable diet. They prefer small mammals such as voles, squirrels, mice. But they will also eat snakes, lizards and any bird that nests on the ground like Canadian geese. They will also eat garbage and pet food if available. LIFE SPAN: Western coyotes typically live anywhere from 3-5 years in rural environments and have been found living up 13 years in urban environments. The main cause of death for western coyotes is humans through hunting and vehicle collisions.