Galveston Island coyote

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Galveston Island coyote
Temporal range: Late Holocene – present
Galveston wolf 11-09-2022.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: C. latrans
Population:Galveston Island coyote

The Galveston Island coyote, informally nicknamed the ghost wolf, [1] [2] is a wild North American canine hybrid that is native to Galveston Island, Texas. They have ancestry from red wolves, southeastern coyotes, Mexican wolves, domestic dogs, and Texas gray wolves.

Contents

Taxonomy

In 2008, photographer Ron Wooten began investigating the coyotes in his native Galveston Island following an attack on his dog, who succumbed to injuries. Initially, Wooten assumed the coyote population were coydogs, as he believed the canids looked like Great Danes. [3] He sent DNA samples from roadkill coyotes to scientists, who compared the samples to related canid species. [4]

The scientists published their findings in December 2018, and determined that the coyotes had red wolf ancestry. [5] Further studies also determined Mexican wolf, Texas gray wolf, and domestic dog ancestry. [6]

History

Historically, red wolves ranged throughout the southeastern United States, but disease, habitat destruction, and predator-control programs ultimately led the red wolf to become nearly extinct. Several of the remaining populations hybridized with coyotes, whose descendants are now often found in the red wolf's former range. [7]

Description

The coyotes have longer legs and more reddish fur than mainland coyotes, traits which are inherited from red wolves. [1] Galveston Island coyotes' weight ranges from 20 to 50 pounds (9.1 to 22.7 kg). On average, Galveston Island coyotes weigh 35 pounds (16 kg), which is intermediate between coyotes (33 pounds; 15 kg) and red wolves (50 pounds; 23 kgs). [8] [9]

It is estimated that there is between 55 and 100 coyotes on the island, who are divided into four family groups based on their location: East End Lagoon Nature Preserve, Galveston Island State Park, Scholes International Airport, and Middle Island. [10] [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Spinski, Tristan; Anthes, Emily (2022-01-03). "The Ghost Wolves of Galveston Island". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  2. ↑ Ortiz, Patricia (January 9, 2024). "Galveston to hold town hall meeting over "Ghost Wolf", a mix of a coyote and a red wolf". Houston Public Media. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  3. ↑ Zhang, Sarah (2019-11-08). "The Secret Identity of a Coyote-Like Creature". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  4. ↑ Solly, Meilan. "Pack of Wild Dogs in Texas Carry DNA of Nearly Extinct Red Wolf". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  5. ↑ Elizabeth, Heppenheimer; E., Brzeski, Kristin; Ron, Wooten; William, Waddell; Y., Rutledge, Linda; J., Chamberlain, Michael; R., Stahler, Daniel; W., Hinton, Joseph; M., VonHoldt, Bridgett (2018-12-10). "Rediscovery of Red Wolf Ghost Alleles in a Canid Population Along the American Gulf Coast". Genes. 9 (12). doi: 10.3390/gene (inactive 1 July 2025). ISSN   2073-4425. Archived from the original on 2025-02-07. Retrieved 2025-04-13.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 Barnes, Tanner M.; Karlin, Melissa; vonHoldt, Bridgett M.; Adams, Jennifer R.; Waits, Lisette P.; Hinton, Joseph W.; Henderson, Josh; Brzeski, Kristin E. (2022-11-14). "Genetic diversity and family groups detected in a coyote population with red wolf ancestry on Galveston Island, Texas". BMC Ecology and Evolution. 22 (1): 134. doi: 10.1186/s12862-022-02084-9 . ISSN   2730-7182. PMC   9664737 . PMID   36376792.
  7. ↑ Maness, Carson (2018-12-18). "Hybrids — and maybe a full red wolf — found in former range". The Wildlife Society. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  8. ↑ "Coyote Info | Galveston, TX - Official Website". www.galvestontx.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  9. ↑ State of Texas, Parks and Wildlife. "Mystery Canines of Galveston Island | December 2019 | TPW magazine". tpwmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  10. ↑ Gray, Chris (2025-02-04). "Suggestion to shoot Galveston's beloved coyotes sends shockwaves across island".
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