I grabbed memory card from a trail cam yesterday that was in the woods all winter. A couple of photos caught my eye of what may be a wolf or a big coyote. It wouldn't be uncommon for a wolf to be in this area of central Mn despite never getting a photo of one on any of my trail cams over the years. The first photo of the (lets call it a) wolf it is definitely wet because there is a smaller river just 50' behind it that I'm sure it crossed over.


The second photo is definitely a coyote photo I added for comparison.



This is where it gets interesting. Note the time/date stamp on the following 2 photos, they were taken just 6 seconds apart. I have my trail camera set to take 3 photos every time the camera triggers, at an internal of 3 seconds apart. The time difference between these two photos is 6 seconds. The first photo of the coyote tripped the camera, the second photo of the 3 photo series I didnt post because it wasn't relative. So the third photo of the series taken just 3 seconds later is the posted photo of the wolf. If it is a wolf, why in the world would it be this close behind a coyote without the coyote running as fast as possible? To me the so called wolf just looks too beefy to be be a coyote with the longer, thick legs. And the first photo of the wolf being wet would make it look even smaller looking with the lack of fluffy fur. Thoughts??

Coyote

The top photo appears to me to be a wolf. The length and diameter of the legs make me believe that. It is also very tall. I would also say the last photo is a wolf as well.

The coyote probably was unaware the wolf was behind him. I bet he found out quickly.

No doubt, the top photo and bottom photo are wolf. 2nd and 3rd photos are coyotes.

Definitely a different nose

When young male wolves get driven out of their home range at maturity and move into new areas, without wolves, they will breed with female coyotes. The "wolf" likely has a fair amount of coyote DNA and may be paired with a coyote.

Keith

Agreed.
Coyotes don't breed with wolves here. The young males are usually able to breed by their first spring, depending on the pack dynamics, but the breeders won't stand for that debauchery. Usually the 2-4 year olds will bugger off in search for a mate but will decimate a coyote in heat. Quite often the 2-4 year olds will rejoin their old pack if able to. Right from young adults in early winter the breeding male will be tested. Maybe in Minnesota they're banging coyotes and are weird like that, but all the evidence out there says they're just normal grey wolves like mine here...lol

Coyote until the states DNA test comes back otherwise

Top and bottom are wolf.

Osky

x2.I agree

Top photo is a wolf. You can always tell by the leg structure (mass). And head!! 2nd picture coyote. Here in Ohio. Coming from Mn. We have big coyotes. Big bone structure etc. Mixed with wolf. But a Timber wolf is still bigger!!!!!

Top and bottom wolf

yes

They're all coyotes, especially the top and bottom pics. They should be shot on sight.

It’s a coyote

I agree with everyone else who is right, pics 1 and 4 are wolves.

I am no expert but 1 and 4 are considerably larger than 2 and 3 which would lead me to believe it is a wolf or those are very small coyotes

Maybe a juvenile wolf

Definitely a Skinwalker.

My money is on pictures of male and female coyotes ,not all are mature animals.