Wolves or Coyotes along I-65 just north of Lebanon (Indianapolis: law, design)

[Golden1]

Let me tell you up here in Northern Connecticut we see and hear coyotes all the time. Big ones to. Some look like wolves. We live in the suburbs and yet we see them slinking through corn fields at dusk and night crossing roads. As I said some you'd swear are wolves by the sheer size of them.

Until I starting seeing them on a regular basis I was always under the assumption that coyotes didn't like to be seen or they traveled a lone. Come up here to Northern CT and you will not only see them but they travel in packs. That said it is not like they are hunting people or anything truly menacing. It's just they are there and I know exactly what the poster who started this thread meant when he wasn't sure if he was seeing a wolf or a coyote. Seeing four of them on a hill at dusk is a chilling sight although as I said they want nothing to do with us.

Wildlife is making a comeback I guess. Up until a few years ago there was the occasional coyote sighting up here now it's regular with cats and small dogs on their agenda as well as turkey and whatnot. And on that note we're starting to see black bear in the darndest places and near urban areas. Weird stuff going on and nature is rebounding I guess.

[knowyourcoyote]

Originally Posted by Southside Shrek

I was driving southbound on I-65 just north of Lebanon this afternoon and spotted two large wolves or coyotes in a snowy field off to my right. They looked like they were hungry and out looking for food. Has anyone else spotted any wolves or coyotes this winter?

and No, I hadn't been drinking and they definitely weren't dogs.

You most likely did see coyotes. Contrary to popular belief, coyotes DO travel in packs of 2 (mated pair) or more and Indiana has a severe over population problem with them. I live in the area of Martinsville, Monrovia and Belleville and see coyotes on a daily basis, typically in groups of 3 to 6. 2 days ago a coyote was stopped at a stop sign about a city block from where I was with my lab who I was washing off after having him out in a field working him. If you go to Stop Indiana Coyotes | Indiana trappers and hunters help control predator populations you can read all about the problem that Indiana has and how it is trying to be addressed. The coyotes are very hungry this time of year and probably were out looking for food, i.e. domestic pets, small children, rodents, anything that they can get.

[Capt. Dan]

I watched a National Geographic show a few years back and I think I remember them saying that the last CONFIRMED sighting of a wolf in Indiana was 1900. They did say that coyotes are becoming more prevalent as the deer population explodes. In 1969 while swimming at Miller beach in Gary, we watched 2 coyotes come after a little dog that was walking with its owner down the beach. the little dog leapt into the owners arms and after growling a few times they ran away. It was quite scary that the coyotes didnt seem to mind that there were several hundred people on the beach!

[rugrat]

I believe that there are several counties in Indiana that you can shoot Coyotes at any time of the year. Here in Benton County the Coyotes are everywhere. I have known of a couple of town marshal's that have shot them within City limits.... You can always tell when the coyotes come to town as all of the rabbits and cats that are lose disappear ( and I don't think most of them are hiding...HA!)

[oleoresin]

I've seen coyotes several times at night out on 341 near Hillsboro, 15 miles west of Crawfordsville. Heard them more than once at night too...drove my friends dogs' crazy!

[Cornblossom]

Originally Posted by rugrat

I believe that there are several counties in Indiana that you can shoot Coyotes at any time of the year. Here in Benton County the Coyotes are everywhere. I have known of a couple of town marshal's that have shot them within City limits.... You can always tell when the coyotes come to town as all of the rabbits and cats that are lose disappear ( and I don't think most of them are hiding...HA!)

For several years (2006 & 2007) I saw Coyotes in Fowler on 4th, 5th and 6th Streets, but have not seen any as of lately. I do, however, see a lot of
stray cats and dogs in Fowler.

[Future Trooper]

I've seen wolves/coyotes in other places along the west and Northwest sides of the Indianapolis area. Seeing those along I-65 around Lebanon doesnt surprise me.

[grmasterb]

I've seen them in Carmel along River Road south of 146th Street.

[Southside Shrek]

and to top things off, I saw a light blonde squirrel with a white tail yesterday afternoon. I took photos of it because some folks may not believe it without pictures. Hey, and I wasn't drinking anything either but cold sober.

[cyclefreak]

I've heard them many nights out in the fields of our subdiv. The deer population must be doing well to have the coyotes increasing as much as they seem to be the last few years.