For me to believe it, they have to prove it was 100% Canis latrans with no Canis lupus in it and I'm not sure DNA can prove that. What ever it is it's big that's for sure.
I took the photos of this canine where it was laying on the ground next to the 7-point buck. I can email you all 4 that I took of this animal and can assure you that they are not doctored in any way. They were taken with an Olympus 2040zoom digital camera and are full resolution of the camera.
I can give you a little more info on this canine. It was killed in Hallstead, PA which is between Scranton, PA and Binghamton, NY. The person who shot it was the brother in law of my Uncle who owns the property where it was shot. The brother in law killed it after someone else had shot it in the leg. It was 105-lbs. It was taken to a PA game commission check station and he was told it was a coyote. The officer said he had never seen one bigger and dismissed it as anything else. The brother in law then decided he would have it mounted. He took it to his home town which is near Pittsburgh, PA and a local sporting goods store said they would pay for the mounting if they could display it in there shop. He agreed. He then took it to the taxidermist and then learned a little more about it. The Taxidermist told him that it was in fact a Male Neutered Wolf.
My uncle has talked to someone who had heard that the NY State game commission had released 12 neutered male wolves to put a dent in the coyote population but that is second hand knowledge. It did not have any collar marks on it's neck but could be someone's pet that got loose at the wrong time. It did look as though it had lived outside most of it's life and having such a heavy winter coat.
I personally think it is some sort of cross breed and released into the wild. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have heard tails of big coyotes in PA and other N.E. states and have found most of them "after all is said and done" to be crosses. There is much debate over this topic and seems to be little fact to go with it.. However I do have first hand knowledge that several ""coyotes" have undergone DNA testing and the results have shown that Grey wolves and coyotes have crossbred and the DNA proves it.
This photo above is probably a good example of this happening.... or its a Texas Deer...LOL
Good Point Danny... I've never been one to grasp this whole DNA thing... it's understanding to a point but then is above me. How can anyone be so sure? And the better question is, who can we really trust for the answers?
Let's take this animal for example... the Game Commission noted it to be a coyote. One would take that as an official answer... now enter the taxidermist... nope, it's something else. Like I said, who in the heck do you take such an animal to to get the correct answers?? Does anybody really know for sure?
Oh well, I'll just lay em down and let someone else sort it out
DNA testing would be able to tell if it was a wolf or dog. Even when closely related there are enough differences in specific segments of DNA that would allow the differentiation. If not, how would we be able to use DNA in criminal cases as proof? Heck, all the crimes would be placed on the same chimp!
Using genetic analysis I was able to tell apart clones of the same species of flower for a project in college.
1-pointer, DNA testing would tell if a Coyote, Bull dog or a Pomeranian had wolf DNA, is that right? If so that's all I was trying to say and that's the point I'm trying to make. Someone said a Coyote and a Wolf are two different species, Canis latrans and Canis lupus and can not interbreed. I don't believe that one nor do I believe half the stories I hear about coydogs. What I do believe is guys going around shooting wild dogs and calling them coydogs. Bottom line is, nobody knows what's going on with all these strange looking so called coyotes, would you agree to that one lol. Like I said before it's an interesting subject, Good Hunting.
What's that old saying...Money talks and fur walks? lol....Blaine, I hope you made a ton of money this season and I'll bet you're right, that thing would bring a hunk of change lol, Good Hunting