Yesterday, an incredibly rare Coyote-Wolf hybrid was spotted at night in Austin. Apparently, this was spotted in the Mueller neighborhood and was sighted on Tillery, behind CTECC. Originally, the eyewitness believed it to be a wolf which is not present in Austin. However, it was later believed to be a combination of a wolf and a coyote.

A coyote-wolf hybrid, sometimes called a “coywolf” or “eastern coyote,” is the result of interbreeding between coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (either eastern wolves, gray wolves, or red wolves), all of which belong to the same genus, Canis. They are found in North America, particularly in the eastern part of the continent. Coyote-wolf hybrids tend to be larger than coyotes but smaller than wolves, with a mix of physical traits from both parent species.

The news was first shared on Reddit alongside the photo. As you can imagine, it caused a lively discussion as such sightings are not exactly common. It also goes without saying that this animal should not be approached as it could turn aggressive if intimidated.

Historically, gray wolves were once present in the western two-thirds of the state, but due to factors like habitat loss and hunting, they are no longer found in the area. So, encountering a wolf in Austin would be a very rare, if not impossible, occurrence.