Coyote... maybe.

What lens did you use for this?

Nice photo's, ya real curuios to see what species this fella is

nice has a dog face but coloring looks coyote-ish

Pretty animal. Not sure what it is, but DON'T pet it!

probably somebodies missing mutt... great shots!

Lei514 wrote in post #12519143
What lens did you use for this?

Well, don't laugh, but I used an old 70-210mm F4 on my 450D. Not a very good lens at all Late 1980's era technology.

OliverD wrote in post #12524128
probably somebodies missing mutt... great shots!

Definitlely does not look like a dog or a mix to me. I'm not an expert at all, but I have to admit it looks more like a wolf than a coyote- hope an answer is found. It would be a great capture if it turns out to be a red wolf.

beautiful shots either way

Cool.

I think it is a dog.

Just a feeling after having been to way too many dog shows, Yellowstone and a few other spots where I did shoot Coyotes, Wolves.... But I am no expert and willing to be wrong.

The jaw is slender for a wild animal, the nose and expression reminds me of a shepherd and the coat reminds me of a malamute, which we bred for a decade.

And if you could get really close, that is a clue, the exception being it found you and you did not know it. Wolves are famous for being able to do that even to experienced hunters.

There are no more red wolves in the Smokys. In 1998, the USFWS captured the remaining red wolves and moved them. Even if there were a lone wolf or 2 that escaped capture and avoided detection all these years, its unlikely it would still be alive (breeding failed horribly, so its unlikely they would have had any pups either).

In other words, its a coyote, or a cross between a coyote and some local dog somewhere.

Coyote's are so prevalent in North America and live within suburbs. It could very easily be cross mix with almost any domestic dog

T2iMdSue wrote in post #12526071
Definitlely does not look like a dog or a mix to me. I'm not an expert at all, but I have to admit it looks more like a wolf than a coyote- hope an answer is found. It would be a great capture if it turns out to be a red wolf.

beautiful shots either way

I was only joking... You may be right...

speedemon105 wrote in post #12526281
There are no more red wolves in the Smokys. In 1998, the USFWS captured the remaining red wolves and moved them. Even if there were a lone wolf or 2 that escaped capture and avoided detection all these years, its unlikely it would still be alive (breeding failed horribly, so its unlikely they would have had any pups either).

In other words, its a coyote, or a cross between a coyote and some local dog somewhere.

from Wikipedia:
According to the latest Red Wolf Recovery Program First Quarter Report (October–December 2010), the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there are currently 110-130 red wolves in the Red Wolf Recovery Area in North Carolina, however, since not all of the newly bred in the wild red wolves have radio collars, they can only confirm a total of 70 "known" individuals, 26 packs, 11 breeding pairs, and 9 additional individuals not associated with a pack.

tomd wrote in post #12529812
from Wikipedia:
According to the latest Red Wolf Recovery Program First Quarter Report (October–December 2010), the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there are currently 110-130 red wolves in the Red Wolf Recovery Area in North Carolina, however, since not all of the newly bred in the wild red wolves have radio collars, they can only confirm a total of 70 "known" individuals, 26 packs, 11 breeding pairs, and 9 additional individuals not associated with a pack.

http://www.fws.gov/red​wolf/

"Over 100 red wolves roam their native habitats in five northeastern North Carolina counties and approximately 200 comprise the Species Survival Plan captive breeding program in sites across the United States, still an essential element of red wolf recovery."

The wolves are in the EAST, by the coast. The smokys are in the west. There are no more wolves in the smokys.

I haven't a clue either, but great shots. My first reaction was a cross between a coyote and a domestic dog, but I'm a city kid, so what do I know.

Wonder if you could send these photos to Fish and Wildlife in that area and see if they can't assist you with an ID.

The coat on the back strongly suggests coyote, overall it is rather brown puppy whereas most I have seen up north are light grey base with grey to black highlighting even in spring summer months. To me the snout is large but otherwise in proper proportion for a coyote.

Hen house robber, cat killers! Most people don't like 'em. Shoot to kill. Or trap, skin and sell for about $200-300 per. I think the fur gets used but I'm unsure for what purpose exactly, anyway the market does exist, it's all strictly regulated.