Is this a wolf?

[KahrMan]

FIrst off, I have not seen any black panthers. Last night I was driving down Sneed road and saw what I thought was a coyote. As I got closer I could tell it was to large to be a coyote. It was standing up by the road. Cars were slowing down to look at it and one car pulled over and stopped. I was not able to stop. This thing had to be 80-100 lbs. It was bigger than my buddies 70 lbs chocolate lab. I was not able to bet a pic last night.

This morning my son calls me from work and says you will never guess what I saw this morning. Same place he saw what he thought was a wolf and got a pic of it. It is not a great pic but you can clearly see the animal.

I am guessing it is either somebodys pet wolf or a coyote/husky(or something similar) hybrid.

Your thoughts?

[Guest adamoxtwo]

A Wolf/Shepard Mix is possible. However, with the reintroduction of wolves in the Northwest, I wouldn't be surprised if they start popping up in area they have never been in before. I know they aren't native to this area, but anything is possible I suppose.

[Will Carry]

I say dog. The shoulders and neck don't look right to be a wolf. Of course I know next to nothing about wolves.

Edited September 3, 2012 by Will Carry

[TN Outlaw]

most likely a Wolf/Huskey mix or similar but its possible they could be making they way here

[Erik88]

I've seen a GSD mixed with a wolf and it was scary looking. Wolf mixes are usually very tall and lean. That looks more like a yote to me.

[Howler]

Looks like a dog to me. Legs look too long to be a coyote and body looks a little big as well.

[gjohnsoniv]

Looks like a dog to me, maybe a coydog or whatever they call them.

[monkeylizard]

I've seen that one too, KahrMan. If it's a 'yote, it's the Godzilla of 'yotes. I've seen him around the large horse farm on the south side of Sneed near Vaughn Rd. I wondered if it might be a red wolf. they were reintroduced to N. Carolina back in the 1980s, but I don't think there are enough in the wild to have spread this far yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wolf

Edited September 3, 2012 by monkeylizard

[gregintenn]

Not a coyote. Looks like a German Shepherd or Shepherd or Husky/Wolf mixture. I can't tell a lot from the picture, but it's legs are way too long for a coyote.

Edited September 3, 2012 by gregintenn

[Smith]

I've seen that one too, KahrMan. If it's a 'yote, it's the Godzilla of 'yotes. I've seen him around the large horse farm on the south side of Sneed near Vaughn Rd. I wondered if it might be a red wolf. they were reintroduced to N. Carolina back in the 1980s, but I don't think there are enough in the wild to have spread this far yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wolf

They were also reintroduced into North Eastern Arkansas a few years back.

[scoutfsu]

That's not a purebred GSD. Could easily be a hybrid though. A wolf is usually a lot leaner and smaller than you think. For reference:

110lb GSD

True Wolf

Wolf/Malamute hybrid - 110lbs but ginormous! Bigger than the GSD in the first picture, and he's not little either.

[KahrMan]

I've seen that one too, KahrMan. If it's a 'yote, it's the Godzilla of 'yotes. I've seen him around the large horse farm on the south side of Sneed near Vaughn Rd.

That's the one. I got a good look at his face yesterday. His head and face seemed fuller, more muscular than a yote. I know yotes get that big in the north east but I have never seen one that big around here. I am almost positive it is not a dog. Maybe it is a hybrid, not sure. All I know is that I have spent my entire life hunting and roaming the woods around here and my reaction was holy crap that thing is huge.

[KahrMan]

Some more pics

[Erik88]

Damn, I honestly can't tell what that is. Perhaps it's a dog mix. I really don't think a wolf is going to allow so many people to photograph it. My neighbors think my dog is a wolf. They are terrified of her.

[hipower]

Damn, I honestly can't tell what that is. Perhaps it's a dog mix. I really don't think a wolf is going to allow so many people to photograph it. My neighbors think my dog is a wolf. They are terrified of her.

Eric, beautiful Husky.

As far as the op's question and pics; my vote is for a Malmute. Bigger than the Husky and Siberians usually, and this animal seems marked up in that way. Can't lay my hads on the pics right now, but looks just like the Malmute I had long ago. Great loving and protective animal.

[xRUSTYx]

Colors are quite muted like a Wolf mix.

It looks like a wolf in my opinion

[Wingshooter]

I've seen that one too, KahrMan. If it's a 'yote, it's the Godzilla of 'yotes. I've seen him around the large horse farm on the south side of Sneed near Vaughn Rd. I wondered if it might be a red wolf. they were reintroduced to N. Carolina back in the 1980s, but I don't think there are enough in the wild to have spread this far yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wolf

It's markings are very similar to the red wolf. Specifically, I'm looking at the black down the tail to the tip, the black on the sholders and the white front legs. Although, a hybrid could still have similar markings. I've had huskies before, but this looks a little different.

A red wolf pic...

[Wingshooter]

Eric, beautiful Husky.

As far as the op's question and pics; my vote is for a Malmute. Bigger than the Husky and Siberians usually, and this animal seems marked up in that way. Can't lay my hads on the pics right now, but looks just like the Malmute I had long ago. Great loving and protective animal.

It could be. Malmutes are huge dogs. Here's a pic of one...

[ShaunM]

Could be a red wolf/coyote mix. I read an article about south eastern coyotes having red wolf DNA. Or it could just be a big dog or big coyote. Shoot it and find out lol.

[ShaunM]

Although not common people have killed 80 to 100 pound coyotes. Not common around here but you never know.

[Mr. Brooks]

That first photo looks similar to one of my dogs.

About 120lb GSD mixed with something. Not sure what, he was a rescue.

[Mdunntn]

Looks like a red malamute to me?

Sent from secret underground bunker

[scoutfsu]

Is this thing just wandering in an open area or is he on someone's land? I find it really strange that a coyote or wolf just hangs out in the open, lollygagging.

[monkeylizard]

I've seen him about an hour before sunset walking about 20-40 feet from the shoulder of a roadway parallel with the road. There were horses in the area. He didn't get too close to them, so I don't know if he would have spooked them if he had.

[KahrMan]

He does not belong on the property. A guy talked with a lady who lives there and she said she does not know where it came from.