[P-Marlowe]

Are those real Coyotes in Southern Ohio or some kind of half wolf mix-breed?

The coyotes here in Southern California are generally about the size of a medium dog and are usually as skinny as a concentration camp survivor and could easily be put down with one shot from a .22.

One would think a 30.06 might be overkill (unless you wanted to try to kill 3 or 4 with one shot). When you say “larger varmits” and coyotes together in the same sentence it doesn’t compute with my Southern California experience.

Just how big are your coyotes?

[xzins]

The one I saw walking through my back yard last week was as large as my yearling Ridgeback, but it was in its winter fur, so it appeared larger.

A recent article about the eastern coyote says:

Wolves in the eastern United States are hybrids of gray wolves and coyotes, while the region's coyotes actually are wolf-coyote-dog hybrids, according to a new genetic study that is adding fuel to a longstanding debate over the origins of two endangered species.

I was a bit surprised at the size of the one I saw last week. We do have black bear in the region that were released by wildlife folks about a decade ago, but I've not seen one, although some church members a few miles to the east of us into the hills have.

Varmints require firepower!