Comparing Canids

There are four species of canids that inhabit Cedar Creek: gray wolves, coyotes, red foxes, and gray foxes. Coyotes and red foxes are the most common canids seen on our trail cameras, simply because their populations are larger than those of wolves or gray foxes. However, we have gotten clear and identifiable photos of all four species, so thought we would compile some resources for you to learn your canids! 

The below graphics were originally developed by and are used with permission from the Colorado Corridors project, with the wolf added in by volunteer Sandra Kooper. Trail camera photos are from Cedar Creek's collection (either Eyes on the Wild cameras or cameras run by our groundskeeper over the years). You can find the graphics presented here, as well as much of this information, in the Field Guide tab located to the right of your screen on the classification page at eyesonwild.com!

At this stage of the project, we ask volunteer identifiers to lump canids into two categories: red and gray foxes and coyotes/wolves. Researchers will be going through these pictures to identify all canids to species, and if we get enough images we will open a new workflow where volunteers can lend a hand marking diagnostic traits like the ones outlined below! For the meantime, if you are able to identify the species in the image, please hashtag it (e.g. #red_fox, #coyote). This will help out researchers down the road - but only hashtag things you are CONFIDENT about. It doesn't help us to get a canid photo with a wrong hashtag or multiple hashtags! You can always just use #canid or ask a question without a hashtag to get our attention. The easiest thing to look for is the size difference between the various species, and the amount of their total body length that is tail. The foxes have REALLY long and bushy tails compared to coyotes and wolves, and are much smaller in size!

Gray wolves (Canis lupus)

Gray wolves are recolonizing Cedar Creek from known breeding sites in northern Minnesota. (You can read that story here!) Wolves are the largest wild canids in the state, averaging 80-100 lbs in Minnesota. They can range in color from light gray to black and stand approximately 2.5 ft tall at the shoulder. They are larger than coyotes or foxes, with broader snouts, shorter and rounder ears, and longer tails. Their legs are long, which allows them to move in deep snow. Wolves are social animals, living in packs that average six individuals (two breeders, the offspring of the year, and several 1-2 year old offspring that have not yet dispersed). Although wolves have denned at Cedar Creek in the past, there has not been a resident wolf pack at the reserve since 2015. 

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Coyotes are a common species found at Cedar Creek and have a wide distribution across North America. They range in color from gray/brown to black and, while wolf-like in their appearance with their dog-like face and tail, are quite a bit smaller in statue. Coyotes also have narrower snouts and relatively larger ears than wolves - if you see prominent, pointy ears, it's a coyote! Coyotes have a flexible social organization and can be found in small family units or groups of unrelated individuals. Many of Cedar Creek's coyotes have a black-tipped tail. This is especially apparent in the pups, which can be confused with gray foxes. The tail length is a good clue - fox tails are bushy and long, nearly half the body length of the animal. Coyote tails (even those of pups) are skinnier, more dog-like and short relative to the animal's body length. 

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Red foxes are the largest of the foxes, but noticeably smaller than either coyotes or wolves. They are highly adaptable and range widely across North America. Although the red morph is most common, they also can be gray, black, or even white. They have elongated bodies, short legs, and with vey bushy white-tipped tails which are long enough to droop on the ground. They can be distinguished from gray foxes by the black "boots" on their legs (though these are not always present on all feet) and black tips on their ears. These boots show up even in black and white nighttime photos. Red foxes also have a more dog-like face than gray foxes. This species is common at Cedar Creek, and can be found as solitary animals as well as in pairs or small family groups.

Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

The gray fox is a small fox that is the only American canid able to climb trees. They can be also be red or brown in addition to gray, but their fur is typically 'grizzled' on their upper parts. They have long, bushy, black-tipped tails and can have white on their ears, chests, undersides, and back legs. They can be distinguished from red foxes by the black 'racing stripe' that runs down their backs and their relatively more cat-like faces. They also lack the black boots of the red fox. The black-tipped tail means that they are easily confused with coyote pups, many of which (at Cedar Creek at least!) also have a black-tipped tail and are a similar size. The tail length is a good clue - fox tails are bushy and long, nearly half the body length of the animal. Coyote tails (even those of pups) are skinnier and short relative to the animal's body length.

Ready to quiz yourself? Several volunteers on the project (BArcher and Jason.Bain) have both shared this fabulous quiz from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check it out!


Best of luck learning your Minnesotan canids, and telling them apart on the cameras! You're doing a great job already and we're enjoying seeing the diversity of predators you've finding!