Are wild wolves known to roam where I live?

Question

I live in Columbus, Ohio. My aunt told me that she spotted a wolf in the parking lot of Walmart one night. I told her that it was probably a coyote as several coyotes are known to roam these parts. However, I hadn't ever heard anything of a wolf.

She maintains that it was gray, though it was dark outside.

Answer 1

Although not likely, it could be a gray wolf. Both the gray (Canis Lupus) and red wolf (Canis Rufus) have been effectively made extinct in the Ohio Valley, but it's never wise to say they aren't around. People are finding animals that were believed to be extint all over the world. The Coyote (Canis Latrans) is making a huge comback in the midwest, however.

That being said, when you look at a large coyote, a gray wolf (which can be a lot of colors besides gray, by the way) and the few surviving red wolves in captivity (there's a viable population in Virginia) it's tough to tell which is which, especially in the dark, as you mentioned.

If I were a gambler, however, my money would be on a coyote, which as someone earlier mentioned often ventures into populated areas to scavenge for food.

Answer 2

As some one who lives in Columbus....

Nope no wolves, at least not wild that is. Chances are it is a Coyote which there are a great many of.

However there is a chance that it could have been a captive wolf. There is a large problem with stupid owners of pet wolves and wolf hyrbids that will "release" their pet after they discover that they are unable to care for it.

I work at the Zoo and we are constantly getting calls of people who own exotics in Columbus and are no longer able to care for them. They thought they would be a cool pet then turn out to be more than they can take care of. There was a cougar roaming around here over a year ago... was the same problem. Used to belong to someone as a pet but was turned loose since they could not care for it.

Nonetheless... was what your aunt saw a wolf? Probably not, but there is a chance that it could have been. It just would have been someones "pet".

Answer 3

Only red wolves are native and they have been exterminated by cross breeding with coyotes, though some of their genetics are still around and occasionally a coyote will be seen in some areas that looks much like a red wolf in size and/or color.

The animal she saw may have been a coyote with or without red wolf genes, or it could be a coy-dog (coyote and dog cross--sometimes they get quite large) or it could have been a pet wolf or part wolf. These animals became quite popular a few years ago and seem to be making a comeback.

Answer 4

well, The chances are very unlikely that it is a wild wolf. If she swears to her dying day that it was a wolf and not a coyote, it could be a wolf hybrid that got loose. Wolf hybrids are illegal in many states, but I believe you can have them in Ohio. Breeders have to stay within certain percentages of wolf vs domestic dog stock, but hybrids often look EXACTLY like wolves.

Answer 5

Wolves In Ohio

Answer 6

A large coyote is much more likely. I have seen one in Massachusetts that looked like a wolf.

Answer 7

OHIO
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has authority on dealing with wolves in Ohio. The wolf hybrid is classified as a dog and is covered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (Chapter 955 Dogs)."

Therefore, it sounds like there is wolves in Ohio.

Answer 8

I would say it was impossible, but it is not likely, more apt to be a coyote, they are very curious and do go into towns and parking lots and such, wolves don't normally do that...but if you really wanted to know contact the local DNR they would be glad to assist you and answer any questions you have

Answer 9

it may be a coyote, many coyotes interbred with wolves on their way east, before there were no coyotes in the east, The eastern Coyote is bigger than the western coyote because they interbred with wolves, So it may look like a wolf

Answer 10

I'd trust a Hyena long before a Wolf, but that's just me I think. People try to make 'pets' out of all kinds of animals. If they make pets out of Pit Bulls, why not a Wolf? Making pets out of animals that you shouldn't otherwise attempt, you need only ask the woman how she feels about pet Chimps.