Newfoundland Wolf
Encyclopedia
The Newfoundland wolf was a subspecies of the gray wolf
, Canis lupus, which existed on the island of Newfoundland off the east coast of Canada
. This extinct wolf was said to have been a large, white animal with a black stripe down its spine.
Recently, coyotes, (Canis latrans) or eastern coyotes from mainland Canada have filled the niche
formerly occupied by the Newfoundland wolf.
The subspecies was not formally described until after its extinction. Appropriately, its scientific name means "Beothuk Wolf"—after the Native American
inhabitants of Newfoundland (the Beothuk
) who are likewise extinct.
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
, Canis lupus, which existed on the island of Newfoundland off the east coast of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. This extinct wolf was said to have been a large, white animal with a black stripe down its spine.
Recently, coyotes, (Canis latrans) or eastern coyotes from mainland Canada have filled the niche
Ecological niche
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another ecological niche from one that travels in a different pod if the members of these pods utilize significantly different food...
formerly occupied by the Newfoundland wolf.
History
European settlers were quick to view the wolf as a cattle killer, and so set out to destroy the island population by setting a bounty on the animal. On September 14, 1839, the colonial government proclaimed a wolf bounty of five pounds. Hunting, trapping and vigorous predator control methods quickly reduced the wolf population on the island. This, combined with a reported caribou population decline, seem the most likely causes of the wolf's demise. By 1911 the last wild wolf was shot, although the official extinction is dated 1930.The subspecies was not formally described until after its extinction. Appropriately, its scientific name means "Beothuk Wolf"—after the Native American
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
inhabitants of Newfoundland (the Beothuk
Beothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
) who are likewise extinct.