Provincial wildlife authorities are pleased with the sightings of uncommon canids, which include coyotes and wolves, as they strive to monitor and gain a deeper understanding of these animals’ presence in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Recently, attention was drawn to the possibility of wolves on the island when Nikita Compton shared online images of a small group of animals near Goose Arm, sparking curiosity about whether they were a hybrid of coyote and dog or even coyote and wolf.
Although identifying these animals without testing is challenging, wildlife officials aim to enhance their knowledge of the overall canid population. The Department of Forestry, Agriculture, and Lands of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, responsible for the Wildlife Division, mentioned an extinct Newfoundland wolf subspecies from the 1930s. However, Labrador gray wolves have been more recently documented on the island, with occurrences in 2008 and 2012.
Since 2013, the Wildlife Division has been investigating the movement of these animals and has conducted genetic analysis on approximately 500 wolf and coyote carcasses in the province. Of these, five animals showed a mix of coyote and domestic dog ancestry, while four were confirmed as Labrador wolves.
The province indicates that the wolf population on the island is low, with genetic evidence suggesting interbreeding with coyotes. Due to the larger coyote population, the wolf genetics are likely to be diluted within the island’s canid population. The diversity in size, color, and body proportions of coyotes makes it challenging to determine their genetic background by appearance alone.
The public’s interest in understanding these canids is encouraged to support ongoing research into the province’s animal life. Hunters and trappers are incentivized to submit coyote and wolf carcasses for further study on the impact of coyotes’ presence on the island and the movement of wolves from Labrador.
If encountering a coyote or wolf, the public is reminded that these animals are rarely aggressive towards humans. It is advised to remain calm, avoid running, and make noise to deter the animal from approaching. Backing away slowly while making noise is recommended if the animal persists.
In Labrador, efforts are ongoing to increase the number of canid samples for better detection of animals with wolf genetic ancestry. The Wildlife Division encourages hunters and trappers in Labrador to report canid carcasses for study purposes.