Do we have wolves in CT?

[Atman]

I've been staying up in the woods northeastern CT -- we have a yurt -- and I'm used to hearing coyotes and owls and various critters. But I just heard some pretty serious howling that was not the sound of a coyote pack. A single howl, low and long, repeated a few times.

Hmm...no walks in the woods tonight!

[Squinch]

1. And that red hooded cape you are so fond of wearing should probably be saved for city outings.

But yes, I think there are wolves in CT now. Last weekend I was in CT and saw a fox that was as big as a Labrador, too.

(OK, maybe I exaggerate, but it was BIG!)

[leveymg]

2. Time to get a bigger dog.

The red fox we came nose-to-nose with a couple weeks ago in the Northern Virginia suburbs was nearly as big as my mixed hound. The fox took off, but it wasn't entirely clear for a second who was going to be the first to run.

[Scootaloo]

3. It could be dogs or coyotes

Dogs give single-call howls, and coyotes do it on occasion as well. I suppose it'd be easier to tell if I could hear the pitch and timbre.

if it IS a wolf - and it's not impossible - then it's probably just one lonely one. They usually howl in cadence with one another.

[Atman]

4. Doubtful it's a dog.

I've spent many a night here in past 17 years. No dogs, lots of coyotes. The coyotes usually start howling in one pack, and it's high-pitched. Then the other coyotes with "answer" them from another part of the woods. This was totally different. As I said, long and low. It was awesome.

[2naSalit]

5. Wolves in CT

are not very likely but not impossible. If there was one it's likely a wanderer. And you don't need to be afraid of it, so go walk in the woods, it won't get you (it's most likely more afraid of you that you of it and wolves usually avoid humans at least out here they do).

But it is also very highly possible that it was a wandering dog that might be lost... after a time they become feral and take to howling looking for others.

There haven't been any documented sightings of wolves in that area, might be a refuge one got away from but...

[Denis 11]

6. It may have been a fisher cat

They are a type of weasel found in Connecticut.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_(animal)

[Atman]

7. Fisher cats are scary sounding!

I've never heard them howl...they sound like a baby screaming. It's a terrifying sound in the middle of the night!

[NewJeffCT]

8. they're supposed to be pretty nasty

and are responsible for a good amount of cat disappearances.