Wolves in Maine (no mountain lions yet)

[peakbagger]

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/10/15/outdoors/wolf-pups-in-northern-maine-joam40zk0w/
There has been occasional sightings of lone wolves in northern Maine for a couple of decades. They usually are attributed to a lone male roaming far from their typical home range. Genetically wolf DNA is being found in the Maine coyote population leading to wolf hybrids being established but the stadndard observation is that the hybrids are sticking with coyote behavior. To date no wolf packs have been reported. Much of Northwestern Maine's border is adjacent to farmland in Quebec so an established wolf packs in Maine could become an issue with the farmers in Quebec.

To date reports of mountain lions are far more sketchy. The use of game cameras is rapidly expanding and capturing a lot of wildlife and to date no mountain lions have been identified.

 

[Rhody Seth]

Exciting developments! I've got a trail camera in my woods - there's a bear people see occasionally and one day I'll catch him!

 

[Hillwalker]

One of the camera shots from my backyard was verified as a Northern Gray Timberwolf. The other was a suspected Wolverine, but not confirmed. I put in a shot of one of the local Coyotes for comparison. And of course a bear.

 

[Mac]

There are wolves in the Chic Chocs (Gaspe, Quebec), at least there were in 2012.
This one was thought to have crossed to New Brunswick across the frozen Bay of Chaleur.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/wolf-killed-in-n-b-1st-in-century-1.1146960Not directly adjacent to Maine, but reasonably close.

 

[sierra]

One of the camera shots from my backyard was verified as a Northern Gray Timberwolf. The other was a suspected Wolverine, but not confirmed. I put in a shot of one of the local Coyotes for comparison. And of course a bear. View attachment 7337View attachment 7338View attachment 7339View attachment 7340View attachment 7341

That Wolverine looks like a large Fisher to me.

 

[Mac]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine"most closely resembles a large Fisher"

 

[Hillwalker]

White patch on chest was what interested the "expert".

 

[sierra]

White patch on chest was what interested the "expert".

It's a pretty cool photo, either way.

 

[Nature]

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/10/15/outdoors/wolf-pups-in-northern-maine-joam40zk0w/
There has been occasional sightings of lone wolves in northern Maine for a couple of decades. They usually are attributed to a lone male roaming far from their typical home range. Genetically wolf DNA is being found in the Maine coyote population leading to wolf hybrids being established but the stadndard observation is that the hybrids are sticking with coyote behavior. To date no wolf packs have been reported. Much of Northwestern Maine's border is adjacent to farmland in Quebec so an established wolf packs in Maine could become an issue with the farmers in Quebec.

To date reports of mountain lions are far more sketchy. The use of game cameras is rapidly expanding and capturing a lot of wildlife and to date no mountain lions have been identified.

A couple years ago my wife and I saw male and female mountain lions cross a dirt road north of Oquossoc village in Maine. Nathan Emerson

 

[JoshandBaron]

Genetically wolf DNA is being found in the Maine coyote population leading to wolf hybrids being established but the stadndard observation is that the hybrids are sticking with coyote behavior.

Not unique to Maine, all eastern coyotes have wolf DNA