Becoming Wolf: The Eastern Coyote in New England

Sunday, May 4, 2025 | 4:00 PM

An eastern coyote is defined as much by its western coyote ancestry as by the DNA contribution from the Eastern wolf. Coyotes in the northeast vary physically and behaviorally from its smaller western relative – while still carrying their incredible adaptability. This program delves into the ecology and behavior of this
creature, its indefatigability and how it is the human who must adapt to live with the coyote.
On the horizon, however, is a native carnivore which fled the northeast during wolf removal and now may be trying to return: The eastern wolf. A look-alike to the coyote, it has been killed mistakenly for its similarity of appearance to the coyote. We’ll talk about how the wolf and coyote might negotiate a truce in the northeast and how we might do the same.

Chris has a background in wild canids dating back to the 1970’s. After earning a master’s degree in Conservation Biology with a focus on gray wolves in Michigan and Minnesota, she returned to the east and taught at the University of New Hampshire where she earned numerous teaching awards. She began farming sheep in the 1980s which turned her attention to the Eastern Coyote. How she managed her sheep while living with coyotes laid the groundwork for her understanding of and living with this predator. She is the NH Representative for Project Coyote, a national organization promoting coexistence with coyotes. Chris co-founded the NH Wildlife Coalition which advocates for predators. She Chairs the Webster Conservation Commission and is a member of the Northeast Wolf Recovery Alliance.