Them jaybird started showin up here in western Ohio in the mid-late 70's, shortly before the beaver also moved in. As an aspiring young trapper back then, these new species garnered alot of attention. Of course all the armchair quarterbacks suddenly started killin 50lb coyotes and 80lb beavers. As a hunter ed instructor, i felt it my duty to get the facts straight. So for 3 years i weighed every 'yote and beaver i shot or caught. That span would be in the early 80's My averages are still writin on the furshed wall. Female 'yotes, 28lb, males, 33lb, and beavers came in at 42lb. My largest 'yote to date came in at 46lb, 1 of only 6 i've killed over the 40lb mark. BTW, in those 35 years, i've only seen 2 black 'yotes and was fortune enough to kill one. And, it took me 4 yrs to get him. I've heard the same story/research about possible crosses with eastern wolves and the idea may have justification. Maybe 20% of our 'yotes here are red, almost like a fox. In the videos i watch, it would appear that the western strains are a bit shorter in the legs than ours as well. Enough for now!