Looks like a coyote with mange. I used to live in So Cali and have seen plenty coyotes and mange is a common ailment that makes them look extremely bizarre. Very like that photo.

It's size is peculiar, though there isn't concrete comparisons in the photo. Could be a wolf/coyote hybrid, which isn't outside the realm of possibility.

Or it could be a giant hellborn, man-eating beast of doom. Your choice.

Other than the fact it looks exactly like a coyote with mange, I have no idea?

From the angle and it being even with the top of the bumper of the truck behind, it looks to be the size of a small German Shepard sans hair. I've seen Coyotes in half a dozen states and it looks the right size for a flatlands area. I had one in Nevada get close enough to my Lab I could tell it was larger. The biggest I've experienced.

The head size I think is an illusion due to the remaining fur on its front quarters.

I think its a crossbreed of wolf,dog,coyote and maybe cougar reminds me somehow on a fox too but the tail is very weird
the animal looks very cool though

not sure if posted before but the nose if differant to a coyote. coytes noses seem
very pointy and narrow wheras this aimals is wider.

looks a bit like a wherewolf, or it is a dog/coyote mix with a fracture neck?

It is a wolf that has mange.

It's just a coyote, I mean sure, it looks weird, but sometimes animals just look strange, you have to accept it. Some humans look weird, do some not? So why can't other animals look odd or out of place?

It's a Kiwi, for sure. Those aren't ears, they're vestigial wings. Odd, I was sure they didn't occur in North America

Look at the picture again, and read the comment right at the bottom of the page. The person who took the picture admits that it is a coyote with mange.

The back half, and the front shoulders definitely look feline to me. The other parts look not quite canine in appearance, but more coyote like.

The body just looks "wrong" somehow, in a way I can't quite put my finger on. And I do not mean the weird fur either, I'm talking about the proportions.

[edit on 22-9-2008 by sir_chancealot]

That thing is soooo huge!!!!!!! Half wolf, half mountain lion.

[edit on 9/22/2008 by Blaine91555]

Dude, that thing is weird It looks like some kinda cross breed. The tail looks like a cat tail to me though.

Originally posted by Anonymous ATS
It is a wolf that has mange.

Not a Wolf. People often make that mistake if they are not familiar with them. That is a normal Coyote that has the Mange.

I've done a fair amount of research into canids, and spend a lot of time around a relatively local wolf-ranch.

The creature is definitely canine and suffering from a mild but advancing case of mange.

However, its proportions are off, which could indicate a case of some development issues.

Additionally, the specimen is a little large to be a coyote. . .

i say coyote with mange, it ears are the give-away. Imagine it with ears pointing upwards? Its clearly not in a good way, but its definately not a wolf or dog. Infact it looks exaclty like the evil coyote's from the lion king

IMHO