DNA Reveals Coyotes in Pennsylvania Were Never What We Thought

Coyotes live in all 67 of Pennsylvania's counties, and most people who see one in their headlights assume it's the same animal everywhere. But the coyote's story in the East is far more complicated than it looks. Wolves disappeared from Pennsylvania by the 1890s, and the coyote moved into the empty space. Where those coyotes came from, what they carry in their DNA, and how they differ from one corner of the state to another are questions scientists are still working on. Hunters, trappers and farmers have long said that coyotes look different depending on where you are: bigger up north, different colors in different valleys, and in some places, something that looks like it has more than coyote in it. Modern genetics is now putting those old observations to the test. Pennsylvania manages the coyote as a single animal, with no closed season and no bag limit. Is that how the animal really works? Where do you live, and what do the coyotes around you look like? Tell us your county in the comments, and whether they run red, gray or dark. #coyote #Pennsylvania #wildlife #PAwildlife #coywolf #genetics #trailcam