Wolves in Southern Ontario?

X2. What's with the "I saw it, I should kill it attitude" with some of you yahoos? Wolves, cayotes, beaver, deer, groundhogs, grouse, geese, elk, moose, bear, wolverine, hawk, raven -these are equally important players in the circle of life that we belong to, and though all can become troublesome when the numbers are out of skew (usually because of our interferance), are not to be objectified and disrespected just because they share the same space as us. Sometimes I am deeply ashamed of my species. Bravo to some of you that spoke up, good on you!

If you're farming, and animals are coming to take your animals, that's a different story.


I am proud of your disdain, and un-impressed with your arguement. Kamina.
 
I do believe the animal I shot was an Eastern wolf. Here is a link to Eastern red wolf research that has been done in Algonquin park. http://www.sbaa.ca/projects.asp?cn=314

I have shot 45lb .....creatures.....that had a very redish coat, since I'm only 20kms from the park it must have been one of those "rare" red wolves.
Sorry 5440fight but hopefully I'll shoot some more ;)
 
I feel 100% the same about coyotes, I only take them if I'm keeping the pelt. No qualms with taking lots, as long as I'm making use of them. We have a lot less wolves around most of the guys in this forum than coyotes, though.

Here's some pics to illustrate wolf size for those in Ontario wondering if they're seeing Wolves, I'm a typical 180lb white guy.

57fbbf58.jpg

e132b79a.jpg


Nice! :cool:


We have had them around here in past years, (I think) although I haven't seen any / or any sign of them this year. Two years ago a pack of 'yotes got in a tangle with what I think were a couple of wolves in our back 40. The wolves actually fought them, which, I think, is unusual for them. They beat the crap out of the 'yotes and the whole pack ran terrified and ended up yipping and bleeding ALL OVER MY BACK DECK!
'Twas an interesting day.
Oh, and they may not have been a timber wolf or something like that, but they certainly have the size to be a wolf. Big as one of my Rottweilers under all that fur. They also sound completely different.
Could still be some hybrid maybe? They sure look like a wolf though.

Usually I carry something with me, either the M1 Carbine, or a shotgun or something when I'm in our back 40 or on the wood lot, just because I know that there's "stuff" out there. Saw cougar tracks not long ago as well.

PS: I'm located in farm country about 15 minutes north of Orangeville.
 
Nice! :cool:


We have had them around here in past years, (I think) although I haven't seen any / or any sign of them this year. Two years ago a pack of 'yotes got in a tangle with what I think were a couple of wolves in our back 40. The wolves actually fought them, which, I think, is unusual for them. They beat the crap out of the 'yotes and the whole pack ran terrified and ended up yipping and bleeding ALL OVER MY BACK DECK!
'Twas an interesting day.
Oh, and they may not have been a timber wolf or something like that, but they certainly have the size to be a wolf. Big as one of my Rottweilers under all that fur. They also sound completely different.
Could still be some hybrid maybe? They sure look like a wolf though.

Usually I carry something with me, either the M1 Carbine, or a shotgun or something when I'm in our back 40 or on the wood lot, just because I know that there's "stuff" out there. Saw cougar tracks not long ago as well.

PS: I'm located in farm country about 15 minutes north of Orangeville.
Wolves are known to eradicate coyotes from their territory.

A PBS program about wolves actually showed film of a pack of wolves stalking, capturing and tearing a coyote to pieces.

In south/central Ontario, we have the Eastern wolf that is much smaller than a timber wolf. Average size for them is 25-30 kg.

Our coyotes can easily get to a similar size. As I previously noted, a local coyote contest (Lindsay area) had a 60 pound coyote brought in. It was not considered to be exceptionally large by the hunters.
 
Wolves are known to eradicate coyotes from their territory.

A PBS program about wolves actually showed film of a pack of wolves stalking, capturing and tearing a coyote to pieces.

In south/central Ontario, we have the Eastern wolf that is much smaller than a timber wolf. Average size for them is 25-30 kg.

Our coyotes can easily get to a similar size. As I previously noted, a local coyote contest (Lindsay area) had a 60 pound coyote brought in. It was not considered to be exceptionally large by the hunters.

So what you are saying, is that nature has it's own checks and balances to stop overpopulation, if we just let it occur, rather than blame one animal or another. Who'd a thunk it? Guys, I have no beef with people hunting these animals, do so with respect, and don't upset the natural foodchain in a whack-off frenzy to erradicate an animal that has more business being there than you. I'll go away now. Ps. Ardent, that's an impressive specimen. Wow.
 
Nice! :cool:


We have had them around here in past years, (I think) although I haven't seen any / or any sign of them this year. Two years ago a pack of 'yotes got in a tangle with what I think were a couple of wolves in our back 40. The wolves actually fought them, which, I think, is unusual for them. They beat the crap out of the 'yotes and the whole pack ran terrified and ended up yipping and bleeding ALL OVER MY BACK DECK!
'Twas an interesting day.
Oh, and they may not have been a timber wolf or something like that, but they certainly have the size to be a wolf. Big as one of my Rottweilers under all that fur. They also sound completely different.
Could still be some hybrid maybe? They sure look like a wolf though.

Usually I carry something with me, either the M1 Carbine, or a shotgun or something when I'm in our back 40 or on the wood lot, just because I know that there's "stuff" out there. Saw cougar tracks not long ago as well.

PS: I'm located in farm country about 15 minutes north of Orangeville.


I'm from Shelburne, I got a 60lb coyote last year. Seen some big tracks again today. Never seen or heard a wolf in this area before, my buddies run hounds all over amaranth, have for the last 15 years, never seen a wolf yet.
 
So what you are saying, is that nature has it's own checks and balances to stop overpopulation, if we just let it occur, rather than blame one animal or another. Who'd a thunk it? Guys, I have no beef with people hunting these animals, do so with respect, and don't upset the natural foodchain in a whack-off frenzy to erradicate an animal that has more business being there than you. I'll go away now. Ps. Ardent, that's an impressive specimen. Wow.

Yep nature does have it's own checks for over population...it's called starvation...& it's not pretty!

Trouble is in a lot of cases these, yote/wolf crosses were never part of the food chain, especially in this area, since yotes never existed till some 10-20yrs ago, now were over-run with them. I remember for yrs a small pack of timbers always roamed this 30 sq mile area, I used to see dominant males track, almost as large as a mans hand. That's all you'd ever see of them, & that was only couple times a yr. Nowdays you can't travel 200yds into the bush & all you see are these yote tracks generally 2-3" in dia. My opinion is since they are not native the only time I will shoot one is when I see one...sorry if it hurts your feelings.
 
I'm from Shelburne, I got a 60lb coyote last year. Seen some big tracks again today. Never seen or heard a wolf in this area before, my buddies run hounds all over amaranth, have for the last 15 years, never seen a wolf yet.


Well, maybe they aren't wolves, but they are bigger than a 'yote, and don't look like a 'yote either.

You likely know better than I do though, I've only been in the area about 7 years.
 
I'm from Shelburne, I got a 60lb coyote last year. Seen some big tracks again today. Never seen or heard a wolf in this area before, my buddies run hounds all over amaranth, have for the last 15 years, never seen a wolf yet.

I'm with DVX, I think most Southern Ontario Wolf sightings are misidentified (but I'm no scientist and haven't played one on TV either). Anybody able to post a pic of a Southern Ontario Wolf that's been shot or trapped (doesn't have to be the poster's)? That'll be the most decisive thing we can do, find pictures with background info. I've visited Southern Ontario once, so I'm flying blind.
 
Common Name: Eastern Wolf

Scientific Name: Canis lycaon

Other Names: Eastern Canadian Wolf, Algonquin Wolf

General Appearance: The Eastern Wolf is a member of the dog family, like the other species of wolves found in North America. The Eastern Wolf is conspecific (belonging to the same species) with the Red Wolf (presently recognized as Canis rufus), a species that was extirpated from the wild in the southeastern United States. Although once part of the same continuum of wolves, land-clearing and direct exploitation by people following European colonization resulted in a large gap between the few remaining Red (Eastern) wolves in the southeastern United States and the larger population in central Ontario and southern Quebec. The Red Wolf is slowly being re-introduced into the wild in areas like Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. Eastern Wolves (and therefore Red Wolves) are very small in size compared to the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) living in the boreal forest north of Lake Superior in Ontario. Unlike the Gray Wolf, the Eastern Wolf in Algonquin Park has never been recorded with an all-black or all-white coat. Instead the Eastern Wolf typically has a reddish-brown muzzle; reddish-brown behind the ears and on the lower legs; with a black, white, and gray back. Most people lucky enough to catch a quick glimpse of an Eastern Wolf in the wild for the first time are surprised by the animal's small size (only about 60 to 68 centimetres at the shoulder). People from more southern areas dominated by agriculture often believe that they have seen a Coyote (Canis latrans) in Algonquin Park. Coyotes are generally absent from Algonquin Park, since wolves will regularly kill any trespasser into their territory and Coyotes have a difficult time finding food in completely forested environments. However, wildlife biologists do know that Coyotes have on occasion bred with wolves here in Algonquin Park. Although this was likely more common when the land was cleared by loggers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, some coyote genetic material continues to find its way into some Eastern Wolf packs along the Park's borders.


Weight: Adult female and male Eastern Wolves on average weigh 25 and 30 kilograms, respectively.
 
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I did some more reading on the Eastern Wolf, we are indeed a big country. Pretty fascinating actually, and almost everything's conflicting. There does appear to be a lot of hybrids in Southern Ontario, and a distinct Eastern Wolf in Algonquin Park. I think we're arguing about different animals. :) My mistake likely, as when I read 'Wolf' I think Timberwolf. There are indeed much smaller variants and even potentially species it seems. Stuff's big up here and you forget that's not the case county wide. From what I've read, the large Southern Ontario canids appear to be big Coyotes, potentially crossed with something close to the Red Wolf, which is likely a Wolf/Coyote hybrid. Seems there is likely some Wolf DNA helping with those weights in the big Eastern Coyotes.
 
I totally agree, I think hunters have a skewed vision of predators.

A wolf won't bother you. And if you do see one enjoy it, their gorgeous. I only saw one once and it's still somthing burned into my mind. I was in the mountains with a friend, doing some pre season wandering when I started up a little hill on a path. At once I looked up just in time to see it starting to come down. We saw each other and instantly he spun around. I ran to the top of the hill and when I got there he was standing in front of a beautiful whitetail buck with his antlers down to the wolf. They must have been going at it and when we got there the buck ran the wolf off. When the wolf saw me he ran back up to the waiting buck. When they both saw us each ran off in a different directon, we chased after the wolf. (I wanted a photo, and I kick myself for not having the camara ready to get both the deer and the wolf in the same shot) We did find the wolf a few minutes later. He was sitting on top of a ridge, with his paws over the edge watching and listening to us. I got the picture, but all you could see were two little distant pointy ears.
 
I did some more reading on the Eastern Wolf, we are indeed a big country. Pretty fascinating actually, and almost everything's conflicting. There does appear to be a lot of hybrids in Southern Ontario, and a distinct Eastern Wolf in Algonquin Park. I think we're arguing about different animals. :) My mistake likely, as when I read 'Wolf' I think Timberwolf. There are indeed much smaller variants and even potentially species it seems. Stuff's big up here and you forget that's not the case county wide. From what I've read, the large Southern Ontario canids appear to be big Coyotes, potentially crossed with something close to the Red Wolf, which is likely a Wolf/Coyote hybrid. Seems there is likely some Wolf DNA helping with those weights in the big Eastern Coyotes.
The Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed it with DNA testing - there are populations of coyotes in Ontario that have wolf genes thrown into the mix.

The interesting thing is, our coyotes also behave more like wolves - hunting large prey in packs, and some howl so much like a wolf, like one fellow in our neighborhood ....:)
 
I'm with DVX, I think most Southern Ontario Wolf sightings are misidentified (but I'm no scientist and haven't played one on TV either). Anybody able to post a pic of a Southern Ontario Wolf that's been shot or trapped (doesn't have to be the poster's)? That'll be the most decisive thing we can do, find pictures with background info. I've visited Southern Ontario once, so I'm flying blind.

So what's this?
72lbs if memory serves me.
So you can judge the size I'm 6' & 200lbs

HPIM0234.JPG


Thats a 3" 12g 00 Buck

HPIM0240.JPG
 
So what's this?
72lbs if memory serves me.
So you can judge the size I'm 6' & 200lbs

HPIM0234.JPG


Thats a 3" 12g 00 Buck

HPIM0240.JPG

was that taken in deer season if not it was a illegal kill with 00 buck you cant go past #2 lead without deer hunting (or other big game) as your only allowed to carry one type of ammo in a big game season with a tag in hand
 
I think the shell's just there for reference camerl2009, but I'm glad the internet police made it. Senior, still looks very Coyote to this guy, though indeed large, think you missed this post below after the one you quoted. I had read about the Eastern Wolf DNA mixed into the Ontario Coyotes, good show and well done. :)

I did some more reading on the Eastern Wolf, we are indeed a big country. Pretty fascinating actually, and almost everything's conflicting. There does appear to be a lot of hybrids in Southern Ontario, and a distinct Eastern Wolf in Algonquin Park. I think we're arguing about different animals. :) My mistake likely, as when I read 'Wolf' I think Timberwolf. There are indeed much smaller variants and even potentially species it seems. Stuff's big up here and you forget that's not the case county wide. From what I've read, the large Southern Ontario canids appear to be big Coyotes, potentially crossed with something close to the Red Wolf, which is likely a Wolf/Coyote hybrid. Seems there is likely some Wolf DNA helping with those weights in the big Eastern Coyotes.
 
was that taken in deer season if not it was a illegal kill with 00 buck you cant go past #2 lead without deer hunting (or other big game) as your only allowed to carry one type of ammo in a big game season with a tag in hand

f:P:

I'm thinking he's using the 12 ga shell as a standard size for the picture.

Time to ease off the CSI a bit perhaps......... ;)
 
was that taken in deer season if not it was a illegal kill with 00 buck you cant go past #2 lead without deer hunting (or other big game) as your only allowed to carry one type of ammo in a big game season with a tag in hand

I'm not sure about the OP's area, but where I hunt, after Dec 31st, I can use whatever the hell I want to shoot coyotes. Judging by the amount of snow, its probably after Dec 31st.
 
was that taken in deer season if not it was a illegal kill with 00 buck you cant go past #2 lead without deer hunting (or other big game) as your only allowed to carry one type of ammo in a big game season with a tag in hand

Thanks for policeing this thread:rolleyes:
But your policeing detective work should have noted the bare ground & melted snow banks such as what happens in the spring!
Pic was taken last winter...besides it's none of your fr**ken business:slap:
 
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