I don't believe there is any real scientific question about the origins of the eastern coyote, coywolf, or "Eastern wolf Canis lycaon". It is an activist attempt to strengthen the argument for protection by antihunting/antitrapping/anti land uses advocates who want to, once again, misuse the ESA to push an agenda unrelated to preventing species extinction. Mech et al.'s research is valuable in that it demonstrates, empirically, that production of hybrids is viable and could occur in the wild. A hybrid of a listed species can be eligible for ESA protection, but if "declared" its own species it is a stronger argument.
I've seen gray, red and dark phase specimens in the wild in New England, they are quite obviously different than western coyotes. The only one I've shot was an adult female that was 45-50lbs.
On another note, quite a few years ago a friend from graduate school and fellow biologist was bowhunting near Missoula in December, and on several occasions saw sets of coyote and wolf tracks traveling together. He assumed the coyote was trailing the wolf to scavenge its kills. However, one day while sitting in his ground blind, they walked by in sight and were walking side by side, and pretty obviously were paired.
