Melanistic coyote?

[pens fan]

So a guy shoots this coyote. For reference, that Boykin Spaniel is 34 pounds and two years old.
So what do you think, yote or wolf?

[KFhunter]

Wolf

[lewy]

My ol man had a pack of coyotes go by his deer stand a few years back with one he described to look just like that

[bornhunter]

Shot a ton of coyotes and although it looks small for a wolf, never seen a coyote that looks like that.

[Okanagan]

Coyote.

I shot a 35 lb. coyote near Sumas, weighed on a scale, and have killed bigger ones.  Where was this pic taken?  It looks more eastern or southeastern than most places in WA.  Coyotes get much bigger and heavier in the East, and there are regions in the southeast where black coyotes are more common than in the far west.

I’ve seen two black coyotes in my life, one in B.C and one right along the border near Blaine.

[LDennis24]

Coyote

[HighlandLofts]

Quit being racist, BLACK COYOTES MATTER

[pens fan]

Virginia

[millerwheeler]

100% coyote

[Tracker0721]

White tip on the tail gives it away that it’s coyote, usually if wolves are gonna have tips they’re black tips. Heard rumor that the white tip was from domestic dog genes getting in the bloodline. Dunno if that’s true. Plus the head shape looks like coyote as does the body. Compared to your dog that’s a common size yote too. Plus if you’re in Virginia then it’d be a red wolf and there were no recorded black ones like how the grey wolves have them. I’d definitely keep that fur on the wall!

[nwwanderer]

Have seen similar where a bunch of domestic crossing happens.  Oklahoma for sure.  Have not come across one that dark here

[Cougartail]

It's a coyote in a wolf's clothing. Cross dresser.

[Ironhead]

Coydog...hybrid

[pianoman9701]

As long as it identified as a coyote, you're good.

[boneaddict]

I had one in the Wenas I had two chances at.   First time I missed, shooting prone in my mothers gravel driveway.   I guess the gravel bothered me more than I thought.   Second on, I had him in my crosshairs, but the house behind him wasn’t a kosher deal so I had to let him go.  He was blacker than this guy.