This “wolf” was shot a few days ago after being discovered in a barn near Wingham, Ontario. The farmer assumed the animal was going to kill his livestock, though further reports that it did no actual damage to his flock.
In reality, this “wolf” appears to be a lost husky, who was probably seeking shelter and warmth inside the farmer’s barn. Huskies and other northern-breed dogs are often mistaken for wolves and shot, trapped, or poisoned thanks in part to people who misrepresent them as being “wolves” or “wolfdogs”.
Huskies and other northern-breed canines are starkly different in appearance when compared to real wolves, and while it is a hunter’s responsibility to know their target, there does seem to be an influx of folks telling others that their domestic-breed pups are something they are not. When a hunter sees a dog being claimed as a “wolf”, and unwittingly believes that claim, incidents like this are only more likely to occur.
Remember: Huskies are no more closely-related to wolves from a genetic standpoint than a doberman or corgi is. They are a primitive breed, however, adapted to a similar climate as wild wolves; and they therefore share some physical similarities, such as long muzzles, double-coats, pointed ears, and thick tails.
But when you really start to break it down, the differences are stronger than the similarities. Below are images of a high-content wolfdog (genetically identical to a pure wolf) compared to a husky/northern breed mix (no wolf):
Initially, they may seem similar in coloration and build, but take a closer look: The husky has a much more uniform coat length, bears blue eyes (which are genetically impossible for wolves to have), and displays stark facial markings, thin pointed ears, a wide chest, and very upright stance.
The wolf, by contrast, has a varied coat length, including pronounced cheek ruffs, a dorsal cape, and a “mane” around its neck and shoulders. The ears are thick and rounded at the tips, as well as fully-furred on the insides. The eyes are small and slanted, almond-shaped, and are not blue (or dark brown) in color, while the skull has a narrow, arrow-shaped build. Wolves also walk with a very low-to-the-ground posture and will not have curly tails, as some huskies and northern-breed mixes do.
For another comparison, here’s a black AKC Siberian husky compared to a pure wolf:
Again: Misrepresenting dogs as “wolves” or “wolfdogs” does far more harm than good. It’s not something to be taken lightly, and really does cause real-world damage in innumerable animals’ lives.
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