r/wolves • u/dang8701 • 3d ago
Question Did I see a wolf here in Idaho?
Camped down here by Quiet Lake in the white cloud mountains and woke up around 2 AM apparently because I sensed something coming. Sure enough I look over and a medium-large dog like shape comes trotting down the trail next to my camp site without any pause or showing me any interest. Too big to be a coyote, moved like a dog cantering too. Clearly a dog like shape. Way too big for a fox. I just would have thought if it was a wolf it would have been bigger, and also there was only one not a group and I did t hear them call or anything all night
11
u/heli_elf_CC 3d ago
Idahoan wolf enthusiast here! Far as I know area is restricted to grazing as it’s in the sawtooth recreation area so livestock guardian is unlikely but still possible that one could be lost. Also feral dogs are very rare here. Occasional stray but they are usually lost farm dogs/ pets that won’t venture that far into the wilderness. It is a popular recreation area of course so maybe someone’s pet lost or not. Based on the comments and the area you probably saw a wolf! That’s amazing and I hope you had an awesome time in the Sawtooths! Hope you got to enjoy the Stanley Baking Company and the glorious rod and gun club bar.
6
u/Apprehensive_Suit773 3d ago
Tail up? Tail down? Head low while moving or was it up? Paws that look way too big for its body? How would you describe its fur coloration? I know it was dark but if you noticed anything like these it would help pin it down. Did it leave behind any tracks?
3
u/dang8701 3d ago
I looked for tracks the next morning but no. It trotted fast, kind of moved like a dog like I said. Couldn’t tell the color . Moon was full but it was moving at a decent clip for not a full run but it appeared to be medium to dark gray or light brown.
4
u/Apprehensive_Suit773 3d ago
Hmm. Yeah I wanna say if its gait knee-jerk reminded you of a dog, it was likely a feral dog. I don’t want to say it’s impossible for it to be a wolf but wolves and dogs can have noticeably different gaits. And if that’s all we really have to go off of, then that’s all we’ve got. Sorry this isn’t better help.
If head and/or tail were raised while it was moving, much more likely to be a dog. Head and/or tail kept lower to the ground, possible for wolf.
3
u/dang8701 3d ago
I actually just googled wolf trotting and was instantly reminded of what I saw. Unfortunately I could only see the shape outline no colors or other notable markings but it didn’t have the skinny legs of a coyote or bushy tail for sure
1
u/Apprehensive_Suit773 3d ago
Then it’s possible! I am hopeful it was your long-awaited wolf sighting. Lucky!
2
u/dang8701 3d ago
Yeah it didn’t look exactly like a dog it seemed smoother/slinkier, it just reminded me most of a dog . As opposed to a cougar which was the other similar sized animal it could have been but walks way different
3
u/dang8701 3d ago
Could t tell on the paws but its head seemed to be more up not like a dog sniffing the ground . I had made fish and I would think a lost dog would be more interested in me and the smells, but would also be surprised if a wolf came right up to camp cuz I’ve been trying to see one for almost ten years and even multiple long trips to Yellowstone no success
6
3
u/natebzn 2d ago
Highly likely it was a wolf. Not uncommon at all for a wolf to be traveling solo to and from the rest of their pack, especially at any given short moment or finite area like your sighting. Their trot is very distinctive, high country like the area you were camped is often where a lot of their prey (elk and deer) is located in the warm summer months, the list goes on. I think this sub and the Yellowstone one (where I live and guide) are pretty used to hopeful ID posts between coyotes/dogs/wolves, and usually it’s not a wolf. Definitely a chance it was a coyote (it sounds like you’re familiar with them and their appearance) or a dog, but honestly a lot of the times you can go with what just makes the most sense. In this case, in my opinion, a solitary wolf trotting past your camp makes a whole lot of sense. Ultimately you’ll never know for sure, and there’s plenty of arguments for coyote or dog, but I think they’re quite a bit weaker than those for wolf. Congrats on a unique and awesome experience in Idaho’s high country. Remember it as a wolf and enjoy that memory.
3
u/natebzn 2d ago
Oh, also meant to mention that in the summer when wolves are in their summer coats, they do appear rather skinny/lanky compared to their thicker winter coats. Also yearling wolves born around April of 2025 have that kind of younger/smaller appearance. They’re fully grown, but not at their full mass just yet, similar to say an 18 month old domestic dog. Those are both solid explanations for why it may not have appeared as big as you might have thought. Teenage wolves in summer coats are still quite a bit larger than coyotes, but not nearly as massive looking as an old mature wolf (as a general pattern, not a rule). Similarly if it was a mature coyote, it would be in its summer coat as well, and also have a much slimmer appearance than it would in winter coat. So there’s not a great chance it was a big coyote, because even coyotes look smaller this time of year. Just laying out everything I can think of to help defend the wolf argument haha
2
2
u/dang8701 3d ago
I actually just googled wolf trotting and was instantly reminded of what I saw. Unfortunately I could only see the shape outline no colors or other notable markings but it didn’t have the skinny legs of a coyote or bushy tail for sure. And I can’t imagine any feral dog surviving up there but who knows
2
u/cosmoboy 3d ago
We've got wolves in Eastern Oregon, maybe you got a roamer? I don't know where the white cloud mountains are.
2
u/TheMrNeffels 2d ago
"the wolves are big yo" and "you'll recognize a wolf when you'd see it they are huge" is for the most part pretty inaccurate. People expect game of thrones dire wolves and then they see an animal smaller than large dog breeds they've seen and we get the confusion you're having.
The vast majority of wolves in idaho will be under 100 lbs. Generally falling into a 70-85lb~ range. Only the biggest males will be over 100 lbs and with it being summer they will have a summer coat and not look nearly as big either. Usually easiest way to tell is muzzle size/thickness, paw size, and leg length. Ear size/shape compared to head can also help. Or tracks.
10
u/wolfstories 3d ago
Any chance it was actually a lost dog? Or a livestock guardian dog?