Your the second to say that. Interesting, I wonder with the wolf strain in your eastern coyote that in fact we have a large difference in western/eastern coyote. So far I see big difference in color,size and now family unit. If the eastern coyote takes on the wolf breeding system, ie pack leader or dominent breeding pair thats huge.
Seen yellowstone special the other nite with about 20 in a pack of wolves. Wonder what pack size/family unit happens in the east?---Cowboy
The most i have seen myself at one time has been when i saw the seven.I have seen five quite a few times but 3 to 4 more commonly.
Same experiences with other people that i know that hunt them here.
Sometimes when you see them they are just in pairs and sometimes you only see one.
I have heard of nine together chasing a deer but i didn't see that myself so i can't swear to it although the guy who told me wouldn't lie about it i don't believe.
They cooperate a lot when it comes to killing deer.Every time i find one (there has been many,many over the years)they killed i backtrack it and follow it to see all what happened.
It is very easy to see where they take turns chasing it and will run it into the other ones and they will take over for a bit and then the other ones will head it of and take there turn for awhile.
Sometimes that tactic is several coyotes and sometimes just two.Several times in very deep snow that had a thick crust on it and the deer were breaking through but the coyotes for the most part were not i found where one coyote had killed the deer by itself.
You will see at the beginning of the chase tufts of hair they pulled out along the way and then the blood will start.Sometimes the chase is short and sometimes it goes on for a long time.
I have also seen them tear the hell out of the ass end of a deer leave it to bed for awhile and then kill it hours later.Exactly why i don't know.I can only guess to weaken it so as not to have as much risk to themselves?
I have absolutely no first hand experience with wolves only what i have read or watched on TV so i do not know if those are tactics they will employ or not.
I will have to rely on you guys who actually know about wolves to tell me.