Was the Illinois wolf really a wolf?

It might have been a coywolf-

See this story in the Chicago Tribune. Was it a wolf?  State wildlife biologists think it was a real wolf


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  1. Jon Way Avatar

    Ralph,
    it looks more like a wolf than coywolf (from New England and NY)/coyote to me. More massive face and typical gray coloration of Great Lakes Wolves.
    I am amazed how lax coyote and coywolf hunting is that people still literally get a slap on the wrist when they kill a true wolf, almost like it doesn’t matter to the states. There should be more regulations on coyote hunting or not allow it if people can’t tell the difference.

  2. Cris Waller Avatar

    Maybe they have changed the story since you first posted it, but there’s nos discussion in the present story of coywolves.

    1. Ralph Maughan Avatar

      I have now changed the headline

  3. Barb Rupers Avatar
    Barb Rupers

    Actually Bob Coine: He thinks it’s a wolf.

  4. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    I posted an article about this in the uncategorized section. The article mentioned that a what was believed to be a wolf was shot about 130 miles south of where this picture was taken. I think both pictures look like a wolf.

  5. Ralph Maughan Avatar

    Despite the controversy, if a wolf, it really isn’t the first one to wander down from Wisconsin.

    There have been stories several years ago.

  6. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    Ralph, that is for sure. There have been others and I am sure there will be many more.

  7. SEAK Mossback Avatar
    SEAK Mossback

    For comparison, here’s a photo of a beautiful prime pale gray specimen that experts are pretty sure is a “real wolf”. It’s apparently starting to frequent the Mendenhall Glacier area where Romeo, the black wolf spent a lot of time over the past 6 years. Just before Romeo disappeared, a gray wolf was spotted in the area and his fans were excited to think he may have found a mate. Perhaps something entirely different happened. Anyway, whereas Romeo ignored people and tried to socialize with their dogs while they were skiing or walking, this wolf’s close approach right up to the woman’s car is alarming, and makes you wonder if somebody has been feeding it. There are plenty of joggers on that road.
    http://juneauempire.com/stories/031910/out_592882717.shtml

Author

Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.

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