A coastal grey wolf of the BC coast forages along a shoreline in early morning light. The light highlighting the brown/red ‘ochre’ tinge in his fur, which is more common to the coastal wolf and helps it to blend in with the low tide exposed rocks amongst which it searches. The coastal wolf, although a grey wolf, is different to the interior grey wolf in many ways. Researchers such as Chris Darimont from Raincoast Conservation, have been able to identify several differences in coastal wolves including a different (and stronger) original DNA line and adaptations in their immune system to protect them from parasites contained in their coastal diets, which can be almost all seafood. Darimont says coastal wolves will often forage differently too and I’ve observed this myself on occasion – with single wolves often seen out foraging or scavenging alone but small packs of four or five out hunting together through the forest when deer is on the menu.
