Provincial wildlife authorities are pleased with reports of uncommon canids, such as coyotes and wolves, as they are actively monitoring and seeking to enhance their understanding of these animals’ presence in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The recent spotlight on wolves on the island emerged when Nikita Compton encountered and shared online images of a small group of animals near Goose Arm, sparking curiosity about their identity. Are they a hybrid of coyote and dog, or possibly a mix of coyote and wolf?
Although identifying the animals without testing is challenging, wildlife officials aim to gain a better grasp of the canid population overall.
The Department of Forestry, Agriculture, and Lands of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, which oversees the Wildlife Division, stated in an email that a Newfoundland wolf, believed to be distinct from the Labrador wolf, is now extinct since the 1930s. However, Labrador gray wolves have been more recently observed on the island, with documented cases in 2008 and 2012.
Since 2013, the Wildlife Division has been studying their movements. Genetic results from around 500 canid carcasses in the province have been obtained by biologists, revealing that five animals had a mix of coyote and domestic dog ancestry, while four animals were confirmed as Labrador wolves from the island.
Further genetic testing is pending on 427 animal samples collected between 2023 and 2025 to uncover more insights into the island’s wolf population.
According to staff, although wolves on the island have likely interbred with coyotes, the larger coyote population is likely to dilute the wolf genetics within the island’s canid population. Determining the genetic background of a coyote solely by appearance is challenging, as coyotes naturally vary in size, color, and body shape.
The interest in resolving the canid mystery is encouraged to support ongoing research into the province’s wildlife. Hunters and trappers are incentivized to submit coyote and wolf carcasses to aid in understanding the impacts of coyotes’ presence on the island and the factors facilitating wolves’ migration from Labrador.
In addition to focusing on the island, efforts are being made to increase the number of canid samples from Labrador to enhance the detection of animals with wolf genetic heritage.
If encountering a coyote or wolf, the public is reminded by provincial wildlife officials that these animals are rarely aggressive towards humans. However, people should avoid encouraging contact or feeding wild animals. In case of an encounter, it is advised to remain calm, avoid running, make noise to deter the animal, and back away slowly if the animal persists.
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