Coyote or Wolf?

[cnelk]

A friend of mine sent me this pic today. Taken in N Colorado within 2 miles of the Wyoming border.
A known area of wolf activity - both collared and non-collered.

Question to Roksliders - wolf or coyote?

 

[Chris in TN]

If it's a wolf but it isn't wearing a collar.....isn't that just a coyote?


(don't answer that...)

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Either would be dead if I were there!

 

[S.Clancy]

Does not look like a wolf to me. Wolves are huge, with super long legs

 

[Bubblehide]

Pictures suck. But, for the size of the animal, the legs look to short to be a wolf. So it is likely a coyote or a mix. Granted, I viewing from my phone's screen, so I suppose I could be wrong.

 

[go_deep]

Looks like the color pattern of the Western coyote

 

[cnelk]

I do a lot of coyote hunting in that area. And to be honest I’m not really sure if I’d shoot (thinking it was a coyote)

If I go with my first impression I’d say wolf. Not an adult but a young one.

I actually set that camera just before thanksgiving. We got a similar pic a couple weeks ago (at night) same spot.

 

[CMF]

seems more tan/brown than the wolf pictures I've seen

 

[NMJM]

I've seen better pics of bigfoot.

 

[cnelk]

Not sure why everyone is complaining about the pics.

You get what you get

You got anything better?

 

[go_deep]

Of coyotes, but not of wolves.

I was going to suggest putting a hole in the ground like you would for trapping, closer to the camera and through some stinky meat in it to try and get it closer to the camera.

 

[Esteban]

Coyote, 100%

Well I can't really tell from the pictures actually, but it could be

 

[cnelk]

I got lots of pics of coyotes from that country - but they are usually dead

 

[Ross]

Looks a tad short for a wolf and not broad enough all the way around, unless a young in.

 

[Scoot]

I agree with Ross. However, with a pic that poor is tough to offer a very confident answer.

 

[johnsd16]

I usually open these expecting it to be so easy but this is a head scratcher. I’ve trapped/snared a good number of coyotes and lived in MN for 35 years and have seen piles of wolves live and on camera.

I’d say wolf as it seems too long to be a coyote and the head is just overall too big/heavy relative to the body. Coyotes have tiny pointy heads compared to a wolf. At the same time the legs don’t look “long” enough to scream wolf. My final vote would be young wolf but with a better pic that could be a big male coyote.

 

[RockAndSage]

I'd put money on that being a big, fluffed up, winter male. Dunk that thing in water and it would look like a wet cat.

EDIT: if this was the height of summer and I saw that photo, it might change things.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I went with coyote, no doubt there are wolves up there, I have seen tracks much further south than 2 miles. I have also killed some good sized coyotes in the foothills/ mountains and it looks like a bigger coyote with a nice coat

 

[Team4LongGun]

coyote

 

[REWIND]

I agree with the people saying that the legs look too short for a wolf. Whatever it is I would like to be there huntin.