A common misunderstanding is that the coyote and the wolf are the same animal. However, despite the fact that they have a great deal of similarities, the contrasts between them are just as evident. Both are members of the canine family. During wolf watching trips, guests get the opportunity to come face to face with these timid and evasive creatures, both on their own and in groups, and in a variety of environments all over the globe. If you want to make your experience of viewing wolves as memorable as possible, it might be helpful to have some knowledge about the behavior and physiology of the species. The first step is to get an awareness of the distinctions that exist between canis lupus and its relative, canis latrans, sometimes known as the coyote. The canis lupus has a far more aggressive disposition than its smaller and lighter relative, despite the fact that the two species belong to the same family (canidae), genus (canis), and order (carnivora). A domestic dog of medium size is about equivalent in size to a coyote, whereas wolves may reach a length of up to 1.6 meters from the tip of their snout to the tip of their tail and weigh up to 90 kilograms. This latter species pursues its prey with a ferocious and fierce appetite, even taking on creatures as huge as bison and emerging victorious. Coyotes are omnivores, meaning that they consume plants in addition to their diet of rodents, reptiles, and other small creatures. In other words, they are less of a predator than other animals. They are both members of the same pack, and they often hunt and raise their pups together. However, in comparison to wolf packs, which may include as many as forty members, coyote packs are typically much smaller, consisting of anything from three to twelve individuals among their ranks. The intellect, stamina, and hunting skills of the two species are somewhat comparable; nevertheless, the canis lupus is distinguished as a more dangerous animal due to its superior physical prowess and aggressive nature. It is not difficult for those who are aware of how to differentiate between the adults of each species given that they are able to recognize their morphological characteristics (however, it can be almost impossible to tell pups apart). In spite of the fact that both may have coats that are somewhat similar in color (varying from light gray to brown or black), their facial traits are very distinct from one another. Coyotes have nose pads and snouts that are narrower, and their ears are often bigger in relation to their skulls. Wolves, on the other hand, have ears that are proportionally smaller, wide snouts, and enormous nose pads. disparities in vocalizations the relative vocalizations of the two animals are likewise considerably different from one another. Coyotes have a higher-pitched sound, and their howls are often shorter than those of wolves. Wolves, on the other hand, have a lower tone and a howl that is more continuous and drawn out. scat and tracks scat There is a possibility that guides may point out the traces and scat (faeces) of the animal when on a trip to see wolves. The size of their scat is far greater than that of a coyote merely because of the differences in their physical bodies. Even their tracks are significantly distinct from one another. In addition to being larger, wolf tracks feature margins that are well defined and display the traces made by the claws as well as the inner and spread outer toes of the animal (this is not usually the case with coyote tracks). A vacation that allows one to see wolves might be a dream come true for those who have an interest in these well-known wild animals since it gives them the opportunity to go to a wide range of different settings all over the globe. Being able to see a single animal cross a huge open plain while on a solo trip or watching a pack hunt is an experience that cannot be forgotten. publisher’s plate Freelance wildlife writer Marissa Ellis-Snow has a particular passion for wolves. She writes about the natural world. Since Maria is so enthusiastic about her topic, she opts for the expert-led wolf watching trips that are organized by naturetrek. These tours have provided her with remarkable views of a diverse array of animals in some of the most breathtaking places on the planet.