Game animals · Side by side
Gray Wolf vs Coyote
How to tell them apart
Quick answer
Judge size and the shape of the head: a wolf is about twice as big, long-legged, with a broad, blocky muzzle and short rounded ears, while a coyote is slight, with a narrow, pointed muzzle and tall pointed ears. Wolf tracks run about 5 inches long, roughly double a coyote's.
Gray wolves and coyotes are close relatives that share the Great Lakes states, the northern Rockies, Canada and Alaska, and a lone animal seen at a distance can be hard to place. For hunters, getting it right is not optional: coyotes are open game almost everywhere, while wolves are federally protected across most of the lower 48, and shooting one by mistake is a federal offense.
Key differences
| Trait | Gray Wolf | Coyote |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Males mostly 85–115 lb; females 10–15 lb lighter | Mostly 20–45 lb |
| Tail | Shorter and bushier for the body | Bushy, black-tipped and carried low |
| Muzzle | Broad and blocky | Narrow and pointed |
| Ears | Short and rounded | Tall and pointed, large for the head |
| Tracks | About 5 in long and 4 in wide | About half that size |
| Color | White, gray, tan or black | Grizzled gray-tan with rusty legs and ears |
| Social life | Family packs, typically 5–10 in the Rockies | Pairs and family groups; less pack-bound |
| Legal status | Federally protected in most of the lower 48 | Legal game in most states, often with long seasons |
Where you might see both
Coyotes live in every lower-48 state, while wolves in the lower 48 are concentrated in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the northern Rockies, with smaller numbers in the Pacific Northwest, northern California and Colorado. Wolves also live across Alaska and Canada. Wherever both occur, wolves are the dominant predator and will kill coyotes they catch.
Eastern coyotes, eastern wolves and hybrids
Coyotes in the Northeast carry some wolf and dog ancestry and are larger than western coyotes, averaging around 40 pounds in New York. In Ontario and Quebec, the smaller eastern wolf of the Algonquin Park region adds more confusion, since it falls between coyotes and gray wolves in size. Genetic studies find that most North American wolves carry some coyote DNA, but in the field, a big eastern coyote is still far lighter and finer-boned than a gray wolf.
What it means for coyote hunters
In wolf country, especially across the Great Lakes states where wolves are federally protected, a coyote hunter has to be certain before shooting. Good optics help, along with judging the animal against cover and terrain, and any shot where size and head shape are not clear is one to pass up. In Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and most of Canada, wolves are legal game with their own licenses and seasons, so a coyote tag does not cover a wolf. Rules change often; check them every season.
By the numbers
The traits the daily hunt game compares for each.
| Clue | Gray Wolf | Coyote |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Predator | Predator |
| Habitat | Forest | Grassland |
| Headgear | None | None |
| Region | Northern forests | Nationwide |
| Typical weight | 90 lb | 35 lb |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
FAQ
Can wolves and coyotes interbreed?
Coyotes have not been documented mating with gray wolves in the wild, but they have hybridized with eastern and red wolves, and genetic studies find some coyote DNA in most North American wolves.
Is it illegal to shoot a wolf by mistake while coyote hunting?
Where wolves are federally protected, killing one is a violation of the Endangered Species Act even if you believed it was a coyote. Confirm your target every time, especially in the Great Lakes states.
Do wolves kill coyotes?
Yes. Wolves treat coyotes as competitors and kill them when they can; after people, gray wolves and cougars are among the coyote's biggest threats.
How can you tell wolf tracks from coyote tracks?
Size is the quickest clue: a wolf's track is about 5 inches long and 4 wide, roughly twice a coyote's. Wolf trails also run straight and purposeful.
Could you tell them apart from a few clues? Test yourself in today's puzzle.
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