Provincial wildlife authorities are pleased with reports of uncommon canids, such as coyotes and wolves, as they persist in monitoring and seeking a deeper understanding of these animals’ presence in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The notion of wolves on the island resurfaced recently when Nikita Compton encountered and shared online images of a small group of animals near Goose Arm, sparking curiosity about whether they were a hybrid of coyote and dog, or even coyote and wolf.
While determining the exact identity of these animals without testing remains challenging, wildlife officials are eager to enhance their knowledge of the canid population as a whole.
The Department of Forestry, Agriculture, and Lands of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, which oversees the Wildlife Division, disclosed in an email that a distinct Newfoundland wolf species, believed to be different from the Labrador wolf, became extinct in the 1930s. However, Labrador gray wolves have been more recently identified on the island, with initial sightings in 2008 and 2012.
Since 2013, the Wildlife Division has been studying the movements of these animals. Genetic analyses have been conducted on approximately 500 canid carcasses in the province, revealing a mix of coyote and domestic dog ancestry in five animals, while four animals were confirmed as Labrador wolves.
Moreover, genetic testing on 427 samples collected from deceased animals between 2023 and 2025 is awaited for further insights.
According to state officials, genetic evidence indicates that wolves on the island have interbred with coyotes. Nevertheless, due to the much larger coyote population, the wolf genetics are likely to remain diluted within the island’s canid population.
Recognizing the challenges in identifying the genetic background of a coyote visually, department staff emphasized that individual coyotes can vary significantly in size, coloring, and body proportion, and unusual appearances do not necessarily imply recent wolf or dog hybridization.
The department welcomes interest in understanding the canid mystery, as it could contribute to ongoing research on wildlife in the province. Hunters and trappers are incentivized to submit coyote and wolf carcasses to help officials gather information on the effects of coyote colonization on the island and the potential routes wolves are using to travel from Labrador to the island.
Efforts are underway to increase the number of canid samples from Labrador to enhance the detection of animals with wolf genetic ancestry.
In Labrador, hunters and trappers are encouraged to report canid carcasses to the Wildlife Division for further study.
Regarding encounters with coyotes or wolves, provincial wildlife advises the public that these animals are rarely aggressive towards humans. However, people should avoid interactions and refrain from feeding wild animals.
In the event of an encounter with a coyote or wolf, it is recommended to remain calm, avoid running, make noise if the animal approaches, such as yelling or clapping, wave arms to appear larger, and slowly back away while continuing to make noise if the animal persists.
Remember to stay updated on wildlife alerts in Newfoundland and Labrador by downloading the free CBC News app and signing up for push notifications. Visit the CBC Newfoundland and Labrador landing page for more information.
