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Comparing Wolves and Coyotes

Gray Wolf Coyote
Gray Wolf Coyote
Length 4.5 – 6.5 feet (nose to tail) 3.6 – 4.4 feet (nose to tail)
Shoulder Height 26 to 32 inches 21 to 24 inches
Track Size 4 – 5 long x 3 3/4 – 5 wide 2 1/4 – 2 3/4 long x 1 3/4 – 2 3/8 wide
Weight 60 – 154 pounds 20 – 50 pounds
Coat Grizzled gray is the most common, but they range in color from black to white Gray or reddish brown with rusty legs, feet & ears with a whitish belly & throat
Muzzle Large and squared Smaller and pointed
Ears Rounded, relatively short Pointed, relatively long
Diet Elk, deer, caribou, moose, bison, beaver Rabbits, rodents, deer, elk, carrion
Locomotion Wolves trot at 5 miles per hour, but they can run in short bursts at up to 35 miles per hour. Coyotes can run up to 25–30 mph
Habitat Forest and tundra. Presently limited to areas of extensive wilderness. Wolves do not do well near human settlements. They can be found in any variety of habitats including forests, deserts, prairies, mountains, agricultural areas, and urban areas. Most common in mixed habitats. They have adapted well to living in urban environments.
Range Gray wolves once ranged over almost all of North America north of Mexico City, except parts of California. Extirpation of wolf populations began after European settlement. In the United States the range, population and legal status of wolves varies by state and region. Alaska, much of mainland Canada, throughout the U.S., south through Mexico to western Panama. Not found in Hawaii.
Wolf Cam
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