The Coywolf

I recently stumbled upon this article about a new species that is emerging right in front of our eyes and had to share it:

The red wolf is considered by some to be a coyote/wolf hybrid (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It seems a wolf will accept any sexual partner when another wolf is not available. Faced with dwindling numbers starting 100-200 years ago, wolves in southern Ontario, Canada, have been mating with coyotes and dogs. This has created a breed called the “coywolf” by those studying this new creature.
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Generally when animal species cross breed, the young are weaker than either parent, seldom reproduce, and generally die. This does not seem to be the case for the coywolf.
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And this species is far from weak. They are twice as large as coyotes. Have larger jaws, more muscle, and faster legs. An individual can bring down a small deer and a pack can easily dispose of a moose. Unlike coyotes that dislike hunting in the forest and wolves that dislike hunting in open areas, the coywolf is comfortable hunting in the forest or in the open. They are also more comfortable in urban surroundings, unlike the wolf that avoids human contact
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Dr. Kay has noticed that not only has this species adapted to smaller territories and become primarily nocturnal (hunting and mating activity at night), they tend to look both ways before crossing roads and highways. This is an adaptive trait that spares the ignominy of becoming a road pizza and certainly advantageous for continued survival in the urban environment.

The coywolf use the railway system to navigate between cities and towns in southeast Canada. They have also spread to large cities in the northeast United States. There are an estimated 20 coywolves now in New York City and uncounted numbers in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Dr. Kay has also observed that their vocalization has changed, with a call that starts in the deep wolf howl and progresses to the high pitched yipping of coyotes. He finds it fascinating to watch what he calls an “amazing contemporary evolution story that’s happening right underneath our nose.”

The coywolf phenomenon has thrown the human definition of “species” into complete disarray and is befuddling scientists. To hold with the notion that a “species” only breeds within its own kind would suggest that wolves, coyotes, and dogs are not separate, individual species.

This is so incredibly amazing to me. The idea that a whole new species is evolving right now, in real time, and we are able to actually witness it is mind-boggling.

It also works to reaffirm the concept of evolution that has so wrongly become  entrenched upon by opportunist creationists.

This is a link to the original PerMD article.