Ronald N. Schultz
Shawn T. Rossler

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Concern
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Genetic integrity wild canids
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Management implications
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Hybrids in the wild
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Not well known
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Male dog & female wolf
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Low survival? – limited parental care/socialization
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Male wolf & female dog
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Low occurrence? – sperm production and estrus cycle are not coincident http://www.pluspets.net
www.bjcreations.com

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(1)Wolf characteristic chart
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(2)DNA test
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Determine if hybrid or wild
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(3) Behavior

(Beth Duman)
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Head is relatively large, with broad cheeks ~ 5.75 inches (~15 cm) across, below the eyes.
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Face markings are well blended, lacking distinguishable borders.
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Well furred erect ears rounded at tip ~ 4.75 inches (~12.1 cm.) long.
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Light colored slanted eyes, ranging from amber to yellow.
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Normal coloration is rusty brown (cinnamon) with black tipped guard hair, winter coat has thick under fur & guard hair.
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Elongated snout (non-dished) with black nose and large ~ 1.0 inch (~23 mm) inward curved canine teeth.
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Narrow keeled chest and hips, front feet slightly toed out, shoulder height ~ 28 inches (~73 cm).
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Long legs with large ~ 3.5 inches (9.0 cm) long by ~ 2.6 inches (6.7 cm) wide front feet and smaller back feet
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Ruff of fur around neck and shoulder area resembling four layer cape appearance.
Chest girth ~ 24 inches (~ 60.5 cm)
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Straight busy tail with black tip, black spot (precaudal gland) on top of tails base.
Tail bone length ~ 17.5 inches (43.5 cm)

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July 2010 – WI new rules on wolf hybrids
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Typical protocol to remove hybrids from landscape when possible http://upload.wikimedia.org
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One case where hybrids were documented and not removed.
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North Willow Pack

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North central Wisconsin
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Industrial forest land
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Private lands
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Seasonal and permanent
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WDNR Property
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Willow Flowage.

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Primarily Forest
Cover
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Tomahawk River
– tributaries
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Rolling landscape

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1997-2010 monitored
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7 females (2 hybrids)
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3 males
– pack and territory size.
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Located ~ once/week
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Summer howling surveys
– pup production.
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Winter track surveys
– pack size
– breeding status.

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2 known hybrids between 2002 – 2007
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W437 (adult female)
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W461 (adult female)
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20 separate confirmed observations w/ pack

W437 – Caught as Adult in May 2002

W437 – Drowned November 2002

W437 – Drowned November 2002
Placental scaring on right & left uterine horn revealed pup production in the spring of 2002.

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W461
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Captured as pup in Nov. 2002
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Died from a gun shot in Nov. 2007
– assumed to be the offspring of W437
3-4 pups were observed in July 2002 on a howling survey, at the same site W437 was located.
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W461 had no placental scaring.
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No recent pups

Adult – Captured pre-2002

Male – 2003 North Willow Pack

Adult – Captured 2010 – confirmed 100% wolf

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Evidence of breeding was detected in the pack every year, 1997 – 2010.
10
8
6
4
2
0
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
Year
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10

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Wolf-dog hybrids are able to survive, reproduce and live with wild free ranging gray wolves for a period of time.
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Wolf-dog hybrid characteristics/genetics seem to have diminished or disappeared from North
Willow pack with time.
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Hybrids living with wild wolves is not an isolated problem. In Wisconsin, wolf-dog hybrids have been documented in 5 different wolf packs, in 5 different counties.
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In this specific case hybrids were not removed, but we believe when hybrids are found in a wild wolf pack, they should be removed.

Floppy Eared Adult - Averill Creek Pack

Adult Female – Averill Creek Pack

Adult Female – Averill Creek Pack

Hybrid? Pup – Averill Creek Pack 2004