Distribution, Taxonomic Status, and Characteristics of Coyotes in Maine

Abstract

Eastern coyotes (Canis latrans var.) may have appeared in Maine as early as 1936; their range now includes most of eight western counties and eastward extensions into central and northwestern Maine. Ninety coyotes, killed in 1968-73, were examined and new distribution records are given. Skull and tooth characteristics of Maine coyotes tended to be intermediate to those of dogs and western coyotes. Adult males averaged 15.8 kg and females 13.7 kg; the mean body measurements were 1251 : 363 : 209 and 116 mm for males and 1179: 343 : 197 and 113 mm for females. Carrion, snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), small mammals, and miscellaneous items composed most of the stomach contents of 51 coyotes killed in the fall and early winter. Identification of Maine canids is discussed. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 38(3):447-454 Aldous (1939) described 12 wild canids captured in central Penobscot County. Some of these were identified as coyotes, some as dogs, and others as hybrid offspring (coydogs) of dogs and coyotes. From 1936 to 1944 the Unit (Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit) received 35 additional canids from various localities and all but two were identified as dogs; one from Franklin County closely resembled a coyote and one from Kennebec County was identified as a coyote-dog hybrid by H. H. T. Jackson of the Biological Survey. Sixteen more canids were killed and sent to the Unit for identification between 1944 and 1953; 15 of these were dogs but one was identified as a dog-coyote cross by H. F. Quick and J. M. Murray of the University of Maine. We have little information on the occurrence of coyotelike animals between 1953 and 1962, because of incomplete records; however, some unidentified canids were submitted from Waldo County where they were reported to be numerous. One canid killed in 1961 in Somerset County was identified as C. latrans thamnos by R. H. Manville of the U. S. National Museum (Carson 1962). For the period of 1962 to mid-1968, we could find no record that canids had been submitted to the Unit. The above canids posed taxonomic problems. The criteria useful for differentiating western canids were applied to canids of New England. This application caused confusion because of phenotypic and behavioral changes in coyotes resulting from hybridization and perhaps natural selection. Moreover, the larger New England animals varied more than did western coyotes. Based on findings of recent studies, the wild canids (except for foxes) received by Unit personnel since mid-1968, have quite clearly been coyotes or dogs and not hybrids of these animals-although individual characters were frequently of doubtful specific affinity. We thank H. L. Mendall and M. W. Coulter, University of Maine, J. L. Paradiso, U. S. National Museum, and H. Silver, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, for critical reviews of the manuscript. We are also indebted to Paradiso for help in identifying canid skulls and to personnel 1The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game, U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Maine, and the Wildlife Management Institute, cooperating. J. Wildl. Manage. 38 (3):1974 447 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.101 on Sat, 08 Oct 2016 05:29:34 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 448 COYOTES IN MAINE Richens and Hugie