White Coyotes?

[Tony Cooney]

National Geographic is highlighting what appears to be a unique Newfoundland phenomenon - white coyotes. The author of the article 'Snow Coyotes and Spirit Bears,' Carl Zimmer, says the Department of Environment and Conservation collects coyote carcasses as part of their research into the animals, and out of the 6-thousand specimens collected, six are snow white. Zimmer says the animals aren't albinos, or animals who lack pigment; instead, these coyotes carry the gene for white fur, helping them blend into a snowy environment. The gene mutation is similar to one found in golden retrievers. One theory offered by Dawn Marshall, a biologist with Memorial University, is that in March of 2001, a male golden retriever ran off with a coyote and was never seen again, leading to speculation that they may have interbred, resulting in a coyote-dog hybrid that may have inherited the white mutation. Because the coyote population was relatively small at the time, the mutation may have been more prevalent in the population before it exploded, meaning two coyotes carrying the mutation would have a greater chance of breeding, resulting in more white coyotes.
post by vocn news

[Norm Strickland]

coyotes all act differently, some are quite while others are very aggresive.Most of mine I dispatch with a thirty inch stick.

[Tony Cooney]

wow

[Norm Strickland]

there was a husky type dog dissappeared up here a number of years ago, no traces of the dog was found.

[Norm Strickland]

Burgeo Road area, I've also caught them on the coast east of here, accidentally in otter traps set on an otter rub.

[Tony Cooney]

wow
were did you get him or her to

[Norm Strickland]

ninety seven dollars

[Tony Cooney]

From the news they say there about 25 of them but like you I dont think they know how many at all

may i ask what the $ was for the white coyote if that is ok to ask

[Norm Strickland]

I don't believe anyone knows how many white coyotes have been taken in Newfoundland. Four years ago I caught a white coyote and contacted the wildlife at Corner Brook to see what they wanted to do with it. They didn't want anything done different than the regular coyote. I skinned it and dropped the carcass of with the other carcasses. This way, no one knows how many white coyotes are trapped, however, the white pelt was the best price coyote I had for that year.