Canine conundrum: This N.L. biologist has ideas on what these animals could be

Four canines seen roaming in a moose protection area in western Newfoundland are likely some kind of hybrid between a coyote, wolf or large dog, according to a Newfoundland and Labrador biologist.

“To me, the animals look like something more [than], or different from, a pure coyote. They look to me like they are an animal that might well be hybridized with either domestic dogs — large domestic dogs — or they could be indeed hybridized with wolves,” Shane Mahoney told CBC News Thursday.

“We do know that hybridization has occurred between wolves and coyotes generally. And also, we do know that we have confirmed cases of hybridization between wolves and coyotes on the island itself.”

Hybridization is essentially the outcome of different species mating and can be driven by different factors. For example, there have been “grolar bears” — grizzly-polar bear hybrids in the Northwest Territories, which likely came about due to climate change.

‘Mixture of species’

The coyote/wolf/large dog potential hybrids were seen on Monday around Goose Arm, between Deer Lake and Corner Brook. Videos and photos of them have garnered more than a thousand shares online, and questions about what their make-up could be.

Historically, Mahoney said there have been 11 instances of wolf-coyote hybrids being reported in Newfoundland and Labrador.

While Mahoney hopes testing can be done soon, he said there are several significant pieces of the puzzle he’s gathered from online video.

The animals have coat colours of predominantly black, white, and shades of grey — which goes against what a researcher might see in a typical coyote, he said.

Because of that, he believes interbreeding between a wolf and a large dog can’t be ruled out.

WATCH | Footage of the canine-esque animals was captured on Monday:

What is it? Potential coyote-wolf hybrid spotted in western Newfoundland

Nikita Compton was out on the land in Goose Arm, between Deer Lake and Corner Brook, N.L., on Monday when she came across a group of animals she believes could be a coyote, wolf or some kind of hybrid.

“It doesn’t always have to be a dog-coyote or a wolf-coyote. You know, there can be wolf-dog interbreeding as well,” Mahoney said. “My bet would be that there is a mixture of species involved here.”

Mahoney said the fact that the animals showed up as a pack of four is also significant — but it’s impossible to tell if it means that more are around.

“We don’t know how many groups like this would exist on the island, or how big this group might eventually become. But nevertheless, obviously the more pack-like structure would make these animals much more effective as predators,” he said.

But while the animals may be a hybrid, Mahoney said they don’t pose added risk to humans compared to a coyote — or even a dog.

He says people should take the same cautions they would normally anytime they’re on the land.

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