[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

I read that originally coyotes (Canis latrans) were just a Western animal, while timber/gray wolves (Canis lupus) were spread throughout all of North America.

As European inmigrants spread over the US, the range of the latter shrank down to practically nothing, short of Alaska & a few enclaves next to the Canadian and Mexican borders, such as Isle Royale in Lake Superior.

With the apex canine predator gone, the coyotes spread out to populate the wolves' former range. What was at one time a species that was almost unheard of east of the Mississippi, is now inhabiting every single state except Hawaii.

[NFHale]

Thank you. Makes sense...

They’re actually beautiful critters. Like grey German Shepherds.