Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

a kennedy

(35,928 posts)
Mon Nov 2, 2015, 10:59 AM Nov 2015

There are now millions of coywolves roaming America

Coyotes, wolves and dogs have formed like Voltron to create a powerful new animal that some scientists are already calling a new species.

And there are already a ton of them.

The “coywolf,” as the specimen is now commonly called, is the product of weak versions of wolves and coyotes interbreeding between each other, as well as with dogs that are the product of human settlement.

The resulting offspring are twice as massive as purebred coyotes, capable of killing deer and, in packs, moose. Thanks to their genetic intermingling, they also have the ability to hunt in any terrain—like wolves, in forests, or like coyotes, in more densely populated areas.

In a study of 437 of the animals, one researcher found that the average coywolf is a tenth dog—usually Dobermans or German Shepherds—a quarter wolf, and the rest coyote.

Roland Kays of North Carolina State University told The Economist he estimates they now number in the millions, and are spreading fast beyond their northeastern epicenter. From the magazine:

The animal’s range has encompassed America’s entire north-east, urban areas included, for at least a decade, and is continuing to expand in the south-east following coywolves’ arrival there half a century ago. This is astonishing.

http://fusion.net/story/224645/coywolf-combination-dog-coyote-wolf-roams-america/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fusion8&utm_content=1&utm_term=fusion-newsletter-225211

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
There are now millions of coywolves roaming America (Original Post) a kennedy Nov 2015 OP
I'm more worried about the 'Duglins.' onehandle Nov 2015 #1
Oh my...... a kennedy Nov 2015 #2
Thanks a lot! (DUzy!) ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2015 #6
Rick Santorum warned us about this. Agnosticsherbet Nov 2015 #3
I prefer my name for them: Lobotes IDemo Nov 2015 #4
There was a lot of hype in Texas 20-30 years ago TexasProgresive Nov 2015 #5
seriously? Liberal_in_LA Nov 2015 #7
Pretty sure I have seen a few of these. jmg257 Nov 2015 #8
This isn't happening in Minnesota. Snobblevitch Nov 2015 #9
Damn...what if they team up with Mockingjays? Atman Nov 2015 #10
They are amazing animals. jen63 Nov 2015 #11
That caint be right! Evolushun aint reel! Arugula Latte Nov 2015 #12
this is like a snippet from Oryx and Crake La Lioness Priyanka Nov 2015 #13
1/2 coyote, 1/4 wolf, 1/10th dog, 1/15th Florida Man Kaleva Nov 2015 #14
Evolution in action. hifiguy Nov 2015 #15

onehandle

(51,122 posts)
1. I'm more worried about the 'Duglins.'
Mon Nov 2, 2015, 11:04 AM
Nov 2015

That's the result of Duggars interbreeding with Palins.

Powerful fundamentalist conservatives, but less intelligent than the two originals, who weren't that intelligent to start with.

Brrrr....

TexasProgresive

(12,729 posts)
5. There was a lot of hype in Texas 20-30 years ago
Mon Nov 2, 2015, 11:14 AM
Nov 2015

about coydogs. It pretty much didn't amount to much. Something to do with the breeding cycle of dogs and coyotes not being very compatible. I haven't heard about this species mixing in years. Personally I haven't ever seen a coydog. I see dogs and I see coyotes. The few coydogs were much larger than coyotes and even dogs as they are an F-1 hybrid which tend to be growthy.

Since the only know wolves in Texas are in captivity coy-dog-wolf intermingling is probably not an issue here. One fact that few know is that in wild canids, wolves will kill coyotes on sight but ignore foxes; coyotes will kill foxes on sight and try to stay away from wolves. It is the extermination of the Texas Gray Wolf that has led to large amounts of coyotes.

jmg257

(11,996 posts)
8. Pretty sure I have seen a few of these.
Mon Nov 2, 2015, 01:36 PM
Nov 2015

We had a big (110#) German Shepard, and though smaller overall, these looked just like him (or a really big fox)...not as scrawny as coyotes which we also have.

jen63

(813 posts)
11. They are amazing animals.
Mon Nov 2, 2015, 02:51 PM
Nov 2015

Some one at DU posted the link to a documentary about them. It was a great show. The really amazing thing is that during efforts to lower their numbers, their litters become bigger, so you end up with more than were culled. They are now living in major urban areas and parks and doing very well.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»There are now millions of...