Wild Dog Breeds In The United States

Wild Dog Breeds

While most people recognize the presence of dog breeds across America, many don’t realize that there are several wild dog breeds living in the U.S., too! These are dogs that were once domesticated but have since returned to their wild roots, typically through generations of selective breeding among native human populations. Here are just a few of the most interesting American wild dog breeds you might run into in your lifetime!

 

Wild Dog Breed #1 Coyote

Coyotes are canids that have a long history of living in North America. The coyote is the most common wild dog in the United States and is found throughout the country. Coyotes will eat just about anything that they come across and are particularly fond of insects, rodents, carrion, fruits, and vegetables. Coyotes will also hunt deer if they are able to catch one. They are most active at night but can be seen during any time of day or night when hunting or searching for food. A group of coyotes is called a pack which usually consists of an alpha male (the leader) who mates with females as well as defends their territory against other males; female coyotes; and young males who will eventually leave the pack as adults to find their own territories. Packs usually consist of anywhere between two and ten animals total, including pups who haven’t left home yet. It's easy to spot a coyote since these animals have such keen senses of sight and smell. When we see something moving out on the horizon or coming up from behind us on the trail, there's a good chance it's a coyote so you might hear them before you see them. Cougars: It's difficult to say what exactly defines what makes these cats so different from regular house cats because cougars aren't considered wild dogs by some people. But if we're talking about what sets them apart from other felines, it would be size!

 

Wild Dog Breed #2 Red Wolf

The Red Wolf is a subspecies of the Gray Wolf that has only been found in North America. Although it is closely related to the Gray Wolf, it differs in coloration and size with a more slender, streamlined build and a coat that ranges from light brown to dark red-brown. Historically, the Red Wolf was found throughout much of southeastern North America, but it has been extirpated from most of its original range. Current populations are limited to parts of West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana. A survey conducted by researchers from West Liberty University and Villanova University estimated that there are only about 35 remaining wolves in the wild. Another study suggests that there may be as few as ten to 12 individuals living in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Unfortunately, these wolves have very little protection against humans hunting them down for their pelts or poisoning them when they prey on livestock. To prevent this species from becoming extinct, conservationists hope to reintroduce captive-born wolves into various areas where they used to live, including Florida, Oregon, and California. For now, however, these beautiful animals continue to remain elusive members of our natural world.

 

Wild Dog Breed #3 Gray Wolf

The gray wolf is one of the most common wild dog breeds in America. The wolf is found in both North and South America, but not in Australia. They live everywhere from forests to deserts to urban areas. Gray wolves are also known as timber wolves because they're often found living in woodland areas where they can feed on animals like deer, beavers, raccoons, rabbits, porcupines, and squirrels. Their diet also includes smaller animals like mice and birds.

The lifespan of a gray wolf can be anywhere from 6-8 years for males and 8-10 years for females. Their average weight is between 75-115 pounds (34-52 kg) with an average height at the shoulder ranging between 26-31 inches (66-79 cm). Gray wolves have long black coats that may turn silver or white over time. There are typically three different color variations of gray wolves: pure white, black with some white markings, or black with yellowish-tan markings. Wolves use their tails as communication tools. When they're happy, they hold their tail out behind them while walking; when they're feeling aggressive or scared, they keep it tucked between their legs; and when traveling together, wolves will brush up against each other's tails. Wolves spend much of their time in packs called packs. A pack usually has about six adults who work together to find food, protect territory, care for young pups and teach them how to hunt. Wolves communicate by barking which is actually very loud compared to their size! They also howl which sounds more like singing than barking since it's more melodic. I didn't know all these facts about gray wolves before reading this blog post!

 

Wild Dog Breed #4 Ethiopian Wolf

Ethiopian wolves are the only wolf species living in Africa. In appearance, they closely resemble gray wolves, but they are genetically distinct and physically smaller. Ethiopian wolves live in packs of six to eight animals, hunting together with their pack mates. They hunt large prey such as gazelles, wildebeests, zebras, and other hoofed animals; when hunting large prey such as wildebeest or gazelle, an Ethiopian wolf pack will coordinate their attack from both the front and back to provide the animal with no escape routes.

Ethiopian wolves defend territories that may vary in size from 2-10 square miles depending on terrain type and prey density. Most territory boundaries run along natural features like ridges, streambeds, or cliffs. When crossing one another's territory, each group has its own set of rules that dictate how it should behave while doing so - including whether they should even cross at all. Some groups do not trespass into others' territory under any circumstances whatsoever. Other groups maintain a truce between themselves by never leaving their own territory and therefore never trespassing either. Packs that share a boundary must agree upon what rules govern how they should act towards each other within the boundary area before any disputes can be resolved (such as whether or not the boundary is acceptable).

 

Wild Dog Breed #5 Maned Wolf

The maned wolf is a shy and elusive animal. These wolves have long, shaggy coats with a distinctive reddish or yellowish-brown color. They are the largest of all wild canines in South America, weighing up to 66 pounds (30 kilograms). The maned wolf has a body length that ranges from 3 to 3.6 feet (0.9 to 1 meter) and stands about two feet tall (60 centimeters).

Maned wolves are solitary animals except when they mate or raise their offspring. This species lives in the open grasslands of southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina as well as in dense forests on the eastern coast of Brazil. Maned wolves eat primarily small mammals such as rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and hares. They also prey on armadillos, peccaries, and birds. Most often, these wolves live near water where they have access to fresh fish.

Maned Wolves do not dig burrows but instead sleep in thickets during the day, emerging at night to hunt for food. They are excellent swimmers and hunters who stalk their prey before attacking it by leaping upon its back. These Wolves cover large distances while hunting so they must consume lots of meat.

 

Wild Dog Breed #6 Dingo

The dingo is a wild dog that originated in Australia. They're also known as the Australian wild dog, native dog, or simply dingo. Dingoes are closely related to domesticated dogs but they aren't the same breed. They're typically tan-colored and have dark brown or black markings on their heads and backs. They're about 2 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh around 30 pounds. There are only 3 purebred dingoes left in the world! It's unknown whether any live in North America. Red Wolf: It's estimated that there are less than 250 red wolves living today. These wolves are also commonly referred to as Eastern wolf or Timber wolf, though it isn't officially recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

 

Wild Dog Breed #7 New Guinea Singing Dog

The New Guinea Singing Dog is a wild dog found in the rainforests of New Guinea and on the nearby smaller islands. It is the only member of the genus Canis, to which all other living canids belong, to live primarily in tree holes. It has a black-and-white speckled coat and whirls its tail around when it walks. The New Guinea Singing Dog is rare even in its native habitat, with a population of fewer than 2,000 individuals, but it is threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. It is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. In 1964, due to the deforestation of their habitat, conservationists moved 18 animals from the Korup National Park (Cameroon) back into a more natural environment within the Mount Mulu National Park (Central African Republic).

The island fox is an omnivorous species of canine that lives on six of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California. They were made famous by Pixar's film Up where they were one of many animals who lived at Wilderness Adventures. These are believed to be descended from wolves and possibly coyotes. Island Foxes have been crossbred for research purposes with mainland wild dog Gray Foxes.