Last week’s announcement by the Department of Environmental Conservation is bound to evoke more than a few “I told you so’s” in regard to the report of a wolf being killed here in New York.
According to a release from DEC, an animal taken by a hunter in Cherry Valley, Otsego County during the 2021 coyote hunting season was in fact, a wolf. The agency reported that a methodical, scientific assessment was undertaken to ensure the accuracy of the species identification using DNA recovered from the animal taken by the licensed hunter. It was that effort that led to a final determination that this animal was, indeed, a wolf.
Although DEC reports the origin of the male wolf was unknown, DNA tests indicate the animal is most likely from the Great Lakes population of wolves. It is unknown if this animal was a wild animal that moved into New York or if this was a captive-bred animal that was released or escaped. Captive wolves released into the wild in New York have been documented in the past.
This is the third confirmed wolf identified in the wild in New York in the past 25 years. Wolves are, and continue to be, protected in New York State as an endangered species.
There have previous reports of “coywolfs” here in the state. There are people who are intrigued by the notion that there are apex predators living in the suburbs. Its very name has a Frankenstein air about it; “coywolf” is an amalgam of the words coyote and wolf, like it was cobbled together in some dark and dank laboratory.
It wasn’t. The eastern coyote is a wild North American canine hybrid with both coyote and wolf parentage.
The hybridization likely first occurred in the Great Lakes region, as western coyotes moved east. The western coyote is smaller and lighter framed than its more muscular and heavier bodied eastern cousin.
You can be sure the latest confirmation that wolves live amongst us will inspire debate as to the merits of their existence is an area as congested as southeast New York. Should there ever develop even a small population there would have to be a concerted effort at public education. People have to understand it would not be advisable to let them get comfortable with our presence. Feeding coyotes, wolves, or any predator is bad business, as is making them feel comfortable living in proximity to us.
As for their potential impact on our deer herd? New York is already home to a well-established, selfsustaining population of eastern coyotes. I’ve watched them attempt to corral deer in my yard in broad daylight, close enough to see the whites of their eyes. Though I’ve not seen them do it, they are successful hunters, especially when it comes to taking fawns and sick deer.
As for what it would mean if wolves started to actually make a comeback? That is an interesting question. I personally think there are better places for them to set up housekeeping.
