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My Dad was walking his dog this afternoon behind his house and jumped up 2 large Coyotes (he thinks). He said they were large for Coyotes and almost looked like wolves but we've never heard of wolves in this area of Va. He found these tracks and sent them over. Are these Coyote tracks or perhaps another large dog?

Originally Posted by Kaneman23

My Dad was walking his dog this afternoon behind his house and jumped up 2 large Coyotes (he thinks). He said they were large for Coyotes and almost looked like wolves but we've never heard of wolves in this area of Va. He found these tracks and sent them over. Are these Coyote tracks or perhaps another large dog?

There are NO wolves in ANY part of VA or even close to VA. There are some Eastern coyotes that have a good bit of dog in the mix that can get well over 50#, but that's it.

He either jumped two coyotes or two dogs.

Originally Posted by 4ager

Originally Posted by Kaneman23

My Dad was walking his dog this afternoon behind his house and jumped up 2 large Coyotes (he thinks). He said they were large for Coyotes and almost looked like wolves but we've never heard of wolves in this area of Va. He found these tracks and sent them over. Are these Coyote tracks or perhaps another large dog?

There are NO wolves in ANY part of VA or even close to VA. There are some Eastern coyotes that have a good bit of dog in the mix that can get well over 50#, but that's it.

He either jumped two coyotes or two dogs.

I told him the same yesterday. I did read where there have been several unconfirmed sightings of wolves in s.w. Va. They may not officially exist but there could be a few out there roaming around. Same for Mountain Lions.

Any opinion on the track?

Originally Posted by Kaneman23

Originally Posted by 4ager

Originally Posted by Kaneman23

My Dad was walking his dog this afternoon behind his house and jumped up 2 large Coyotes (he thinks). He said they were large for Coyotes and almost looked like wolves but we've never heard of wolves in this area of Va. He found these tracks and sent them over. Are these Coyote tracks or perhaps another large dog?

There are NO wolves in ANY part of VA or even close to VA. There are some Eastern coyotes that have a good bit of dog in the mix that can get well over 50#, but that's it.

He either jumped two coyotes or two dogs.

I told him the same yesterday. I did read where there have been several unconfirmed sightings of wolves in s.w. Va. They may not officially exist but there could be a few out there roaming around. Same for Mountain Lions.

There are no wolves in SWVA; none. There are Cougars, though.

The tracks are pretty round; likely dog.

Because he jumped 2 coyotes I would be inclined to say thats what the track was made from, however it looks to wide to be a coyote.

Dog to to me.

Canine and looks like dog to me though could be one of those big eastern coyotes. Not as big as an adult wolf track. Definitely not a cougar.

Originally Posted by Okanagan

Canine and looks like dog to me though could be one of those big eastern coyotes. Not as big as an adult wolf track. Definitely not a cougar.

Dog would be my guess too....

Wolf track for reference....

I'd say domestic dog....coyote tracks are more oval shaped than those, and a bit smaller. Wolf tracks, as shown above are much larger, but are also oval shaped.