Coyote or wolf?
How to tell them apart
A coyote is smaller than a grey wolf, its close relative.
Quick answers
They differ on 1 of the 8 quick answers: carnivore.
| Question | Coyote | Wolf |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? differs | Omnivore | Yes |
| Dangerous? | Can be | Can be |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? | Night | Night |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? | No | No |
At a glance
| Question | Coyote | Wolf |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | North America, Central America | North America, Europe, Asia |
| Habitat differs | Grassland, Forest, Desert, Towns | Forest, Grassland, Mountains, Polar |
| Size differs | Medium | Large |
| Length differs | 75–100 cm | 105–160 cm |
| Height differs | – | 80–85 cm at the shoulder |
| Weight differs | 7–21 kg | About 25–40 kg on average, by region |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives | In packs | In packs |
| Lives for differs | 10–14 years | 6–8 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Coyote
A North American wild dog, smaller than its close relative the grey wolf. It adapts well to places people have changed, and urban coyotes are now common in many cities. In 2013 one was seen across the Panama Canal for the first time.
Wolf
The largest wild member of the dog family. Wolves live in family packs, usually a breeding pair and their young, that hunt large prey together over big territories.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.