Saw My First Gray Wolf at the House This Morning

[ABNARTY]

I am guessing it was a younger male or female striking out on their own this time of year. I was in the kitchen this morning and saw him/her loping along across the road in a field. While it was too far and too quick to get a picture of the critter himself/herself, I ran out to find the tracks and get some pics and measurements.

I know many people, wolf experts all, will tell me I saw a poodle or a coyote. Never mind they have never seen a wolf themselves. Never mind I spent three years in Alaska and got to watch them all the time. Never mind I measured all the elements of the tracks and they fall outside of large dog parameters.  Yes, it could have been a large canine like a wolfhound or something similar. But it wasn't. Clearly gray wolf coloration and characteristics.

So believe me or not  . 

It has been a good last year or so for wildlife. Black bear, pine marten, bobcat, and now a gray wolf. Heard about a Mountain Lion chasing a fawn through the back of my place but I have no evidence... yet!