Genetic mashups, howling hybrids, the coyotes that have spread throughout Virginia over the past 30 to 40 years do indeed bear a healthy helping of wolf in their DNA.

That’s what biologist Dr. Christine Bozarth found in a study she conducted, analyzing DNA from coyotes in Northern Virginia—animals that are mostly coyote, with “dashes of gray wolf and domestic dog,” says Bozarth…

… Bozarth wasn’t surprised that the results of her study confirmed that hypothesis. But, she says, “There was a lot of wolf—I was kind of surprised by that.” What she also hadn’t anticipated was DNA evidence suggesting that coyotes had also come into Virginia from the south, hybridizing with red wolves that now are found only in eastern North Carolina.

Thanks to that wolf DNA, says Bozarth, Virginia’s coyotes can be as big as 50 to 80 pounds, making them much larger than their western counterparts, which usually are around 30 to 40 pounds at maturity. Their behavior, however, remains coyote-like. Coyotes mate for life, and “they don’t really exhibit the same pack behavior that wolves do,” says Bozarth. “They usually hunt either by themselves or in pairs.” They also tend to be shy and reclusive; Bozarth spent three years collecting coyote poop (it’s a glamorous life in field biology) at Quantico Marine base for her study and only saw an actual coyote once.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:City people OP, ignore these posts. A coyote is not going to go after a 50+ pound dog. You can let that fear go. I would worry about cars. Keep calling shelters. Hope they find their way home.

A 75-pound dog was killed Wednesday night by what appears to be a coyote near the Boston Post Road in the south end of town Wednesday night, the owners of the dog say.

The owners of the dog asked that we post a reminder to people that even large animals in densely populated areas can fall prey to coyotes.

https://patch.com/connecticut/madison-ct/75-pound-dog-killed-by-coyotes-near-boston-post-road

Coyotes are stone cold killers.

Anonymous wrote:City people OP, ignore these posts. A coyote is not going to go after a 50+ pound dog. You can let that fear go. I would worry about cars. Keep calling shelters. Hope they find their way home.

A 75-pound dog was killed Wednesday night by what appears to be a coyote near the Boston Post Road in the south end of town Wednesday night, the owners of the dog say.

The owners of the dog asked that we post a reminder to people that even large animals in densely populated areas can fall prey to coyotes.

Anonymous wrote:Thx is for the support and info - meant a lot. We were very distraught and especially hard on our kids at Christmas time. So thankful for the good people that found them and beyond thankful that they appear uninjured, just tired and hungry. I will take them to vet tomorrow to get checked out, just to be sure. One is almost 10 so this was quite the adventure for him!

Anonymous wrote:OMG OP this was stressing me out, I can't imagine how you were feeling! So glad a day they are home and safe, that sounds like quite the adventure!

Anonymous wrote:Do you think they just waited out the night in the woods nearby?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Found!! And safe - and oddly not dirty… we are
surrounded by woods that they love to go into - suburban MD

Great news! How did you catch them?

Anonymous wrote:Found!! And safe - and oddly not dirty… we are
surrounded by woods that they love to go into - suburban MD

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Found!! And safe - and oddly not dirty… we are surrounded by woods that they love to go into - suburban MD

Where?

That’s wonderful news, OP!