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At first it might seem easy to identify a wolf vs. a coyote. After all, adult wolves are two and even three times larger than adult coyotes. Still, people mistake one canine for the other all the time. Many people have seen coyotes from a distance and felt certain they were wolves. Others who don\u2019t think wolves exist on certain landscapes will see a glimpse of gray fur on a trail camera and swear it\u2019s a coyote. Young wolves especially resemble coyotes in their small size, and coyotes can take down larger livestock with all the power and ferocity of a wolf. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth knowing how to differentiate between a wolf and a coyote. Sure, both pose a risk to your off-leash pets, your chicken coop, and your local herd of whitetails. But one is considered a varmint species in most states, and hunting them is both legal and encouraged. The other is federally listed as either threatened or endangered in most places, and shooting one could land you in prison with a massive fine. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about the similarities and differences between the two species.<\/p>\n
You will likely never get the chance to see a wolf and a coyote standing side-by-side. But if they did give you the opportunity, you would see two canines with distinct physical traits. The differences in size, build, length from nose-to-tail, and facial features would jump out first. If both species howled, observers would hear different pitches and patterns. And when the two eventually ran away, they would leave very different tracks behind.<\/p>\n