Provincial wildlife authorities are pleased with the reports of unusual canids, including coyotes and wolves, as they strive to monitor and gain a better understanding of these animals’ presence on the island and in Labrador.
Recently, attention was drawn to the possibility of wolves on the island when Nikita Compton shared images online of a small group of animals near Goose Arm, sparking curiosity about whether they might be a hybrid of coyote and dog, or possibly a mix of coyote and wolf.
While identifying these animals without testing is challenging, wildlife officials aim to enhance their knowledge of the overall canid population.
The Department of Forestry, Agriculture, and Lands of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, which oversees the Wildlife Division, revealed that while the Newfoundland wolf subspecies is extinct since the 1930s, Labrador gray wolves have been documented on the island more recently, with sightings in 2008 and 2012.
Since 2013, the Wildlife Division has been studying the movement of these animals. Genetic analysis of around 500 canid carcasses in the province has shown that five animals had a mix of coyote and domestic dog ancestry, while four animals were confirmed as Labrador wolves.
Further genetic testing on 427 samples collected between 2023 and 2025 is underway to gather more insights.
According to the authorities, while there is evidence of wolf DNA in some samples, the wolf population on the island remains low compared to the coyote population, with indications of interbreeding between wolves and coyotes.
It can be challenging to determine the genetic background of a coyote visually, as they vary in size, color, and body proportions. Therefore, the appearance of an individual coyote may not necessarily indicate recent interbreeding with wolves or dogs.
Efforts to gather more samples from Labrador to enhance the detection of animals with wolf genetic ancestry are ongoing.
Moreover, the public is reminded that encounters with coyotes and wolves are rare, and it is advised not to provoke or feed these wild animals.
In the event of encountering a coyote or wolf, it is recommended to remain calm, avoid running, make noise to deter the animal, and appear larger by waving arms. If the animal persists, continue making noise while slowly retreating.
Hunters and trappers in Labrador are encouraged to report canid carcasses to the Wildlife Division to contribute to the ongoing research on the animal population in the region.