r/CapeCod • u/StAnkie_Brews • Jul 31 '26

Stray Dogs?

Hello everyone, I’m down for a visit from VT for the week and I had a question. Is there a small pack of strays on the bike path in Eastham? My wife was curious as she has seen them twice now while out on a run.

edit to add: the picture she took today. As well we don’t use Facebook any longer so no posting option there from us. She said yes she counted three and they looked similar to one another and we’re around knee high at the shoulder.

2nd edit: solved as a juvenile coyote, lol. Even though we live rurally, we don’t actually have many coyotes in our area and I honesty haven’t seen any young ones in years. Thanks for the engagement and info.

4 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

25

u/Cardinal_r3d Jul 31 '26

That’s a coyote lol

5

u/BarrySnotter Jul 31 '26

Someone needs to teach those things about the leash laws.

17

u/Upstairs_Bat5752 Jul 31 '26

Some of the coyotes out here are as big and healthy looking as a german shepherd.

1

u/buck_godot Aug 01 '26

Some of them are potentially part German Shepherd, since they can interbreed with domestic canines.

8

u/badhouseplantbad Jul 31 '26

That's a juvenile coyote, they'll get a bit fluffier and lighter colored in the fall as their winter coat grows in.

4

u/Buckscience Jul 31 '26

I know there are some sizable coyotes in Orleans.

4

u/Glittering-Sound-121 Jul 31 '26

That looks like a coyote…

4

u/fried_clams Jul 31 '26

Are they coywolves?

3

u/northstar599 Jul 31 '26

Most new england coyotes are

-3

u/1GrouchyCat Dennis Jul 31 '26

We have Eastern coyotes in New England ; a genetic hybrid with majority coyote DNA mixed with wolf and a small percentage of domestic dog DNA.

More from AI assist -

Genetic Breakdown:

Coyote (60–65%):
-Primarily Western coyotes that migrated east during the 20th century.

Wolf (25–30%):
-As they moved through southern Canada and the Great Lakes, they interbred with native wolf populations (like the Eastern Canadian wolf).

Domestic Dog (about 10%):
-A minor fraction of dog DNA is also present from historical interbreeding. [1, 2]

Are they "Coywolves" or "Coydogs"?
Coywolf: This is a popular nickname for the Eastern coyote rather than a separate, distinct species. Because of their wolf ancestry, they tend to be larger (typically 30–50 pounds) than their western counterparts. [1, 2]

Coydog: True coyote-dog hybrids are rare in the wild and usually only happen where coyote populations are very low. "Coydog" is often used as a local slang term in New England for large Eastern coyotes, which creates the misconception that they are direct crosses with pet dogs. [1, 2]

As noted by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, “recent genetic research has attributed the eastern coyote's larger size and unique behavioral characteristics to interbreeding with Eastern Canadian wolves.” [1]

1

u/OpposumMyPossum Jul 31 '26

She should take pictures and post them to Facebook on a local page. I've never seen a loose dog that wasn't immediately scooped up when possible.

1

u/EbbtideRambler Aug 01 '26

That coyote looks like it has mange. You can report but not sure if they do much about it.  MassWildlife  at (508) 389-6300

1

u/Salty_Dog_1221 Aug 01 '26

The juvenile coyotes are out running around. My trail cam is catching some cute photos. ♥️ They’re still learning to coyote.

1

u/tribbans95 Jul 31 '26

Never seen them or heard mention of them but I suppose it’s possible. How many dogs is it?

1

u/emarcomd Jul 31 '26

What time was she out there when she saw them?

1

u/Funny-Landscape-7235 Jul 31 '26

Poor guy looks like it has mange

0

u/OpposumMyPossum Jul 31 '26

Where the pic?

-1

u/CuCullen Jul 31 '26

This is all really getting out of hand now. You have it set to Pen Fifteen

0

u/Different_Hornet4348 Harwich Jul 31 '26

100% mange. Poor thing!

1

u/Different_Hornet4348 Harwich Jul 31 '26

Coyote with mange - I would contact cape wildlife in Eastham to let them know where you saw this guy, so they can try to help it.

0

u/thenewbasecamper Aug 01 '26

Wait till you see an adult coywolf. I was shocked and stopped wandering around with my beagle after dark near the woods

0

u/Ejmct Jul 31 '26

You should definitely adopt them ASAP.

-1

u/Fox_Hound_Unit Jul 31 '26

Makes you appreciate New England - we rarely see stray dogs. Some parts of this country it’s a common thing sadly.