Some of the coyotes in the area are a mix of red wolf and coyote, or possibly dog and coyote. We had a family of nine living behind us for a spring and summer. They were definitely a red wolf/coyote mix. Only a couple of the pups looked like coyotes. They started traveling once the pups were grown enough. During that winter we saw them occasionally in just groups of 3 or 4 at a time. Since they each had such distinct markings we could recognize them, especially when reviewing video footage. We haven't seen any of them now for a year and a half.
The US Fish and Wildlife biologists were really excited about my video footage, but informed me that the only full-blooded red wolves are radio-collared and living elsewhere.
There are several gray wolf packs up in Chipley, but they're fenced in at the Seacrest Wolf Preserve. If you like wolves, I'd recommend a visit to Seacrest. Sitting in the middle of a pack of howling wolves is an awesome experience.
There is so much open land around that the coyotes aren't stuck in one place. They can raise their pups in one area and then move on to greener pastures. That way they don't have to rely on the local cat population for food. I just wish there was an easier way for them to cross hwy 98.
In more congested areas you'll either find coyotes or foxes, but not both. They don't share territory well, and the fox ends up dinner for the coyote.
Another thing to note: Coyotes (and wolves) mate for life, and only have a short breeding period during the winter. So in most cases your female dogs are safe.
kidding. I would have thought the same. what a neat sight on 30A.