Wolves fascinate me. I've never seen one up close, but I've read lots about them, and I think they're totally cool. To me, they're a mysterious, untamed, intrepid version of me. But to be honest, I wouldn't want one in my backyard. I'm just a little guy, after all.

You can imagine my shock when I thought I did see one in my backyard! He was majestic and large – with gorgeous gray fur, a bushy tail, and amazing confidence. I felt certain he was a wolf, but that seemed highly unlikely in Middleburg, so I did what any canine journalist would do: research!

It turns out that I had seen a coywolf. This hybrid is a cross between the eastern wolf and the western coyote. It has a larger jaw, longer legs, bigger paws, a shorter snout, smaller ears, and a thicker tail than a coyote. Coywolves can weigh up to 45 pounds and can travel 10-15 miles a day. Like wolves, they are social creatures, living in families of three to five when resources are abundant. While they are only just now getting widespread attention, their first appearance is thought to have been in Ontario in 1919.

While that sounds like a long time, coywolves are still a new species, and a remarkable one at that. They adapt to many environments because of their uncanny ability to stay under the radar. They are expert opportunistic hunters with a varied diet that allows them to find food even in challenging landscapes. Their intelligence, stealth, and resourcefulness are a formidable combination and a recipe to thrive.

In our region, they are definitely thriving. There have even been reported sightings in DC's Rock Creek Park. In the more rural parts of our area, like Middleburg, they are making their presence known. While they are rarely seen, their distinctive howls ring through the night sky on a regular basis.

Given their association with wolves, it's no wonder that some people are a little nervous about them. Even I would be a little uneasy if I found myself snout to snout with a coywolf. While I would like to report that they are completely harmless, that's not exactly true. Like any carnivore, they pray on other animals. While rodents and small mammals are usually what they choose to eat, they can go after larger animals like very young deer and livestock as well. And, while it gives me a chill to say this, small dogs and cats can also be at risk.

What this means is that those of you who care for little furry friends should keep an eye on us. Left unprotected, there is a chance that we could be in danger. That does not mean that anyone should panic, however. Coywolves pose very little threat to humans, and equally scant threat to attended pets. Basically, living in the country just requires a healthy amount of common sense about all wild beings, including coywolves. If you have a small pet, it's a good idea to stay close by when we're outside.

After learning about coywolves, I've decided that they're pretty amazing. I encourage my readers to google "PBS Meet the Coywolf" for an approximately hour-long documentary about this emerging species. Looking back on my experience seeing one at my house, I realize that I'm among very few who will ever catch a glimpse of these elusive animals. Rather than feeling scared, I feel tremendously honored.

Albert, a Jack Russell Terrier, is Chairman of the Board of Wylie Wagg, a shop for dogs, cats, and their people, in Middleburg, Fairfax, Falls Church, Arlington, and Woodley Park.