In light of the human fatality from an Eastern Coyote attack in Nova Scotia one month ago, I researched the literature to see it there is some consensus on the species of coyote hanging around the neighborhood.  According to a mammal biologist friend, one way of identifying a coyote and a wolf is its vocalization.  A wolf howls and a coyote yelps.  I have heard both in my yard here in Topsfield, at Lake Umbagog in NH/ME and my cabin in central Maine. I have also observed coyotes of small size and some that are big, approximately 50 #s. This clip is of a small female in Topsfield.

The research is sponsored by EBSCO Publishing Company

from By: Kyle, C. J.; Johnson, A. R.; Patterson, B. R.; Wilson, P. J.; Shami, K.; Grewal, S. K.; White, B. N.. Conservation Genetics, Apr2006, Vol. 7 Issue 2, p273-287, 15p

Eastern North American wolves have long been recognized as morphologically distinct from both coyotes and gray wolves. This has led to questions regarding their origins and taxonomic status. Eastern wolves are mainly viewed as: (1) a smaller subspecies of gray wolf (Canis lupus lycaon), potentially the result of historical hybridization between gray wolves (C. lupus) and red wolves (C. rufus), (2) a hybrid, the result of gray wolf (C. lupus) and coyote (C. latrans) interbreeding, or (3) a distinct species, C. lycaon, closely related to the red wolf (C. rufus). Although debate persists, recent molecular studies suggest that the eastern wolf is not a gray wolf subspecies, nor the result of gray wolf/coyote hybridization. Eastern wolves were more likely a distinct species, C. lycaon, prior to the eastward spread of coyotes in the late 1800s. However, contemporary interbreeding exits between C. lycaon to both C. lupus and C. latrans over much of its present range complicating its present taxonomic characterization. While hybridization may be reducing the taxonomic distinctiveness of C. lycaon, it should not necessarily be viewed as negative influence. Hybridization may be enhancing the adaptive potential of eastern wolves, allowing them to more effectively exploit available resources in rapidly changing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By: Muntz, Erich M.; Patterson, Brent R.. Canadian Field-Naturalist, Apr-Jun2004, Vol. 118 Issue 2, p278-280, 3p:

Among the social canids, howling is largely accepted as playing a role in territory maintenance. However, its role in communication within packs, such as announcing departures from den and rendezvous sites and coordinating reunions or movements, remains largely speculative. We report an observation where a radio-collared adult male Coyote (Canis latrans) and his mate seemed to summon two other Coyotes(presumed to be their offspring) from ∼700 m away to join in the successful pursuit of an adult male White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Our observation suggests that Coyotes can use vocalization as an effective means of coordinating social activities such as the hunting of large prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jim