Red Wolf, cross, or a big coyote.

cross?

Photo is from southeast Franklin County.

Face says coy-dog...

Pregnant coyote, or very healthy one?

Yep that's a blunt looking nose for a yote.

I'd like to see a better angle...but to me the markings say 'Yote', just a BIG one.

I get some pics from time to time that make me think Coydog though.

Big yote

Coyote in very good shape and with a winter hair coat.
Adios,
Gary

Where would the red wolf come from that created the cross...as they have been extinct in the wild since the 80s?

"Extinct" is sometimes hard to prove, sort of like proving a negative. Numerous species have been declared extinct only to be discovered still alive decades later. In the case of the coalacanth, it was thought to be extinct for 65 million years, the only known specimens being from the fossil record. https://www.thoughtco.com/living-species-once-thought-extinct-4117748

You may want to check out this article. Keep in mind that while a crossbreeding species may go extinct, its DNA will continue to be present in the crossbred population for a very long period of time.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/extinct-red-wolf-dna-discovered-galveston-strays/

Byron South looked at the photo and said 100% coyote.

That would make some buddy money in a heavy coyote jackpot

Just a big ol coyote with his new winter coat.

Big coyote with a good coat! I’d keep his hide

Big yote.