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Escarpment Magaz ine Summer 2012
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For me, the interpretation that makes most intuitive sense combines sev-
eral lines of evidence. Since the studies summarized here examined dif-
ferent animals from various areas using different methods, it’s not
unexpected to see different interpretations and conclusions for each
study. What is certain is that the eastern wolf was recognized as differ-
ent from coyote and formally described as early as 1755, almost 200
years before the coyote invaded from the west. So the animal present
in central Ontario and around the Great Lakes at that time was free of
modern hybridizing coyote genes.
But, it was not necessarily free of older coyote genes. A group of scien-
tists led by Brad White of Trent University has just reported on 400- to
500-year-old Canis samples excavated from a precontact Iroquois vil-
lage in London, Ontario. Two of the samples show genetic sequences
matching those of present-day coyote, not grey wolf. Comparing their
tooth morphology, however, shows eastern wolf rather than coyote ori-
gin. This discovery suggests that the NewWorld–evolved eastern wolf
and not the grey wolf occupied this region prior to the arrival of Euro-
peans, although eastern–grey wolf hybrids cannot be ruled out. This
further supports the theory of a shared ancestry between eastern wolves
and western coyotes. Hybridizing could have happened over the last
18,000 years during the last glaciation. White’s group also suggests
that the grey wolf did not inhabit the deciduous forests of eastern North
America but was associated with the boreal forest and the Precambrian
shield. The grey wolf and the eastern wolf would likely have hybridized
more recently, once they came into contact after the retreat of the ice,
in and around those areas where deciduous and boreal forest mix.
Whatever is happening, the wild canids of Ontario are something of
an alphabet soup of coyotes, wolves, and dogs. While these species
can interbreed, such behaviour is not typical; historically they have
maintained a certain level of breeding integrity. Changes to Ontario’s
habitat have likely enabled some of the recent hybridization that has
occurred. The changed environment may now favour the smaller deer-
eating wolf Canis lycaon in areas that are still forested and has certainly
allowed coyotes to expand into rural Ontario. This changing face of
the canids in Ontario is not necessarily a negative development. The
animals are adapting to changed environments.
And so, this brings us back to the question of why the coyotes in Thorn-
bury are so large and what they were doing hunting in daylight. It seems
that coyotes have become accustomed to living in populated areas,
and a rural field on an overcast February morning did not pose a threat
to them. I think these animals are primarily coyote with small amounts
of grey wolf and possibly dog DNA. They look like coyotes, they be-
have like coyotes, and for the most part they are coyotes. As a naturalist,
I like to categorize, put species into boxes, to be able to distinguish a
coyote from a grey wolf. But as a scientist, I realize that what I’m seeing
is evolution in progress—evolution accelerated by humankind’s hand.
Judith Eger is senior curator of Mammalogy and Deputy Head of the
ROM’s Department of Natural History.
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If you go out in the woods today...
WHAT TO DO WHEN COYOTES ARE NEAR
• Eliminate sources of food
from your propertry, including pet
food, food for wild animals, even fallen fruit. Coyotes are omnivorous
and, like any animals, will be attracted to an easy source of food. They
are curious and do not fear humans.
• Keep pets indoors
, particularly at night.
• Clean up after your dog.
Coyotes are attracted to dog feces.
•
Enclose your property with a fence
at least 2 metres in height.
• Neuter or spay your dog.
Coyotes are attracted to and will
mate with domestic dogs not speyed or neutered.
• Do you keep livestock?
Use llamas or donkeys, which are ag-
gressive toward preditors, to guard them.
• When you encounter a coyote, remain calm
and face
the animal. Do not run—the coyote will instinctively give chase. Make
noise and make yourself look larger by waving your arms.
•
When walking your pet in the country,
keep it leashed.
For more information, see the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
website at
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