STUDY ON WOLF PACK SIZE AND ELK SURVIVAL SPOTLIGHTS STRONG COUGAR IMPACT

[bearpaw]

STUDY ON WOLF PACK SIZE AND ELK SURVIVAL SPOTLIGHTS STRONG COUGAR IMPACT

For it, they paid close attention to 1,266 cows and 806 calves (captured at half a year old) in 29 herds from across Idaho between 2004 and 2016 to come up with a model that could predict the risk of death for the elk, according to the paper’s abstract.

They found that outside of hunting harvest, 9 percent of cows and 40 percent of calves died annually.

Mountain lions accounted for 45 percent of calf deaths, 35 percent of cows. They’re an ambush predator, better in rougher, denser terrain.

Wolves were responsible for 32 percent of cow mortalities, 28 percent of calves. They’re a coarser, more effective in open country.

full story: http://nwsportsmanmag.com/study-on-wolf-pack-size-and-elk-survival-spotlights-strong-cougar-impact/

[jakeweb]

Very interesting read. I’m not completely surprised by this and the numbers might be higher for cougars in Washington considering wolves aren’t as widespread yet. Be curious what the same study for deer might tell us. Thanks for sharing bearpaw!

[KFhunter]

Wolves leave a lot more evidence and are easier to see their depredations.  Cats are so spread out its hard to see their impact. 


Thanks for the link