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Author Topic: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half  (Read 6273 times)

Offline Bob33

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https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/07/11/snacking-on-kittens-and-starving-adults-wolves-may-have-cut-northwest-wyomings-big-cat-population-in-half/

Northwest Wyoming’s mountain lion population might have plummeted by nearly half in the past few decades, thanks to wolves killing kittens and pushing adults away from prey.

That’s according to a study detailed in a recent article published by Smithsonian magazine that claims wolves have reduced the mountain lion population by 48% in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The two species, along with grizzly bears, while not always the best of friends, have managed to co-exist for ages in the Greater Yellowstone, Wyoming Game and Fish Department large carnivore specialist Dan Thompson told Cowboy State Daily.

And while it’s difficult to quantify the full effect of wolves on mountain lions, the Yellowstone area can offer glimpses into how the trio of Wyoming’s mightiest predators have interacted through the ages, he said.

“We lack the functionality of a time machine to sojourn back and quantify the abundance, density and distribution of predators and prey through time,” he said. “We can do this based on historical accounts and even fossil records, but alas we will never accurately know how those true interactions occurred 1,000 years ago, 500 years ago, even 200 years ago.”

Lions Were On Top

More recently, with wolves and grizzly bears mostly out of the picture up until a few decades ago, mountain lions enjoyed what was arguably an unnatural status at the very top of the wildlife pecking order, Thompson said.

“So, now fast forward to just 30 years ago where this study area occurred and the dominant natural predator (leaving out human beings for the sake of this discussion) is the mountain lion,” he said.

The elk also congregated in areas with thick cover, where mountain lions could sneak in and ambush them, Thompson said.

But when the wolves started coming back, they drove the elk into more open areas. That made it much more difficult for mountain lions to pull off ambush attacks, their preferred hunting style, he said.

Kitten Killers

While the adult mountain lions were having a tougher time getting food, wolves were also slaying kittens, according to the Smithsonian article. In one instance, researchers noted that a female mountain lion they were tracking lost all three of her kittens to wolves in less than a year.

That’s the reversal of a trend that other researchers noticed recently the Pacific Northwest, a sharp uptick in the number of wolves being killed by mountain lions.

Wyoming Has Big Wolf Packs

The Greater Yellowstone has its own set of dynamics, Thompson said.

“Populations are regulated by prey abundance, humans (hunting)” and mountain lions sometimes killing each other or each other’s kittens, he said. “This is how it works throughout most of North America, but in the GYE it is a different story.

“After wolves were reintroduced, they thrived and expanded, and in the case of this study area some of the bigger wolf packs and higher densities occurred in the GYE resulting in changes in mountain lion behavior, distribution and abundance.”

Wyoming Lion Population Might Be Bloated

What’s going on with wolves, mountain lions and grizzlies in northwest Wyoming could just be a return to a more natural order of things, Thompson said.

Back when the other two apex critters were mostly absent, and with humans as their only competition for elk hunting, mountain lions took advantage and multiplied, he said. So, it was only natural for them to get knocked back some when their four-legged competitors returned.

“One could argue that we are living in and witnessing this intricate evolutionary dynamic right before our eyes,” Thompson said.

In other areas of Wyoming, mountain lion populations might be bloated, relative to natural history, he said.

“In areas with abundant prey and lack of primary competitors, mountain lion populations are likely higher now than in the distant past — the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming are a prime example of this,” he said.

Earlier this year, Wyoming legislators argued that an overabundance of mountain lions in places such as the Black Hills was one good reason for passing a bill allowing hunters to pursue the cats with hounds outside of regular hunting seasons. The idea being, it would help hunters and their dogs stay in practice, and be more likely to kill mountain lions once hunting seasons opened.

That bill was passed and signed into law.

Balancing Act

While mountain lions might have been knocked back in northwest Wyoming, there’s no reason to think they’ll be knocked out, Thompson said.

Meanwhile, the Game and Fish tries to maintain a balance between wildlife species as well as different and sometimes clashing public opinions regarding large predators, he said.

“We have also maintained or augmented wolf harvest limits to reduce conflict potential with livestock as well as reduce overall pack size and abundance in these areas,” he said. “These are done based on data and public comment. In the microcosm of hunting and large carnivores there is a great deal of polarity of opinion between total extirpation and a completely hands off mentality” and the Game and Fish’s approach is somewhere in between.

Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.

Offline Rainier10

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2023, 08:05:16 AM »
Interesting story. Thanks for posting.
Pain is temporary, achieving the goal is worth it.

I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.

Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example instead of his advice.


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HuntWa or the site owner.

Offline timberfaller

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2023, 08:38:15 AM »
Tell me, WHAT has the government touched, that hasn't screwed something up????? :o
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Offline HillHound

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2023, 10:27:23 AM »
Holy crap what a conundrum these crazy activists are going to be in. Their beloved cute little predators are eating their other beloved cute little predators. Who would’ve thought. These Apex predators are not gone off the landscape on accident. These animals were driven to extinction or near extinction on purpose so us humans could cohabitate on the same land. These freaking idiots need to go back to their history books

Offline HillHound

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2023, 10:29:27 AM »
It also infuriates me that I noticed this public comment part that keeps coming up. Why doesn’t the WSP look for a public comment on how fast we think the speed limit should be. Why go off the data on accidents and deaths. We should just take it to a vote  and if the majority say the speed limit on I 90 should be 120, *censored* what do they know go with public comment. 120 must be safe if That’s what the public wants. Oh and make sure we include all those people that have never driven a car. Because we need to make sure we have their in put on what is safe seeing how they have no previous experience or knowledge of the topic.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2023, 10:53:00 AM by HillHound »

Offline Special T

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2023, 11:06:36 AM »
@Bob33 that article runs in the opposite direction of the long term predator prey study done in ID over 12-15 years. Elk do not move into the open because wolves are sight predators and cougars are ambush. According to the ID study they found that ungulates are pushed into the timber.

In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

Confucius

Offline Rainier10

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2023, 11:17:08 AM »
For every study there is another one that says the opposite.
Pain is temporary, achieving the goal is worth it.

I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.

Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example instead of his advice.


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HuntWa or the site owner.

Offline Bob33

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2023, 11:41:45 AM »
@Bob33 that article runs in the opposite direction of the long term predator prey study done in ID over 12-15 years. Elk do not move into the open because wolves are sight predators and cougars are ambush. According to the ID study they found that ungulates are pushed into the timber.
Interesting.  I have no reason to doubt either study.
Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.

Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2023, 11:54:19 AM »
Holy crap what a conundrum these crazy activists are going to be in. Their beloved cute little predators are eating their other beloved cute little predators. Who would’ve thought. These Apex predators are not gone off the landscape on accident. These animals were driven to extinction or near extinction on purpose so us humans could cohabitate on the same land. These freaking idiots need to go back to their history books

The activists don't care about the wolves, or the cougars, or the ungulates, or bunny rabbits. Their goal is to end hunting. Now they can push for an end to cougar hunting. Ungulates are next.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace https://valoaneducator.tv/johnwallace-2014743

Offline hunter399

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2023, 12:00:50 PM »
Holy crap what a conundrum these crazy activists are going to be in. Their beloved cute little predators are eating their other beloved cute little predators. Who would’ve thought. These Apex predators are not gone off the landscape on accident. These animals were driven to extinction or near extinction on purpose so us humans could cohabitate on the same land. These freaking idiots need to go back to their history books

The activists don't care about the wolves, or the cougars, or the ungulates, or bunny rabbits. Their goal is to end hunting. Now they can push for an end to cougar hunting. Ungulates are next.
Ding ding for the win.

Offline hunter399

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2023, 12:01:30 PM »
It also infuriates me that I noticed this public comment part that keeps coming up. Why doesn’t the WSP look for a public comment on how fast we think the speed limit should be. Why go off the data on accidents and deaths. We should just take it to a vote  and if the majority say the speed limit on I 90 should be 120, *censored* what do they know go with public comment. 120 must be safe if That’s what the public wants. Oh and make sure we include all those people that have never driven a car. Because we need to make sure we have their in put on what is safe seeing how they have no previous experience or knowledge of the topic.
So funny cause it's so true. :chuckle:

Offline baldopepper

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2023, 12:03:31 PM »
Years ago in college I had to take a statistics class. Professor was a very well known statistician and had done work for several large companies. First day of class he warned us about statistics. He said that you could give him any any subject you wanted verification on and he could present an acceptable statistical verification of it. Been leary of statistical verifications ever since.
 

Offline hunter399

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2023, 12:08:06 PM »
Years ago in college I had to take a statistics class. Professor was a very well known statistician and had done work for several large companies. First day of class he warned us about statistics. He said that you could give him any any subject you wanted verification on and he could present an acceptable statistical verification of it. Been leary of statistical verifications ever since.
 
Oh ya it's true.
Like said ......
For every study there is another one that says the opposite.

Yup every study has its own agenda.

Offline Mtnwalker

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2023, 12:13:43 PM »
Holy crap what a conundrum these crazy activists are going to be in. Their beloved cute little predators are eating their other beloved cute little predators. Who would’ve thought. These Apex predators are not gone off the landscape on accident. These animals were driven to extinction or near extinction on purpose so us humans could cohabitate on the same land. These freaking idiots need to go back to their history books

The activists don't care about the wolves, or the cougars, or the ungulates, or bunny rabbits. Their goal is to end hunting. Now they can push for an end to cougar hunting. Ungulates are next.

 :yeah:

Offline Special T

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2023, 05:07:50 PM »
This is the group that did the study. Unfortunately writers these days are lazy and don't cite the actual source. Several article use circular citement, which typically means they are trying to hide something. Mark Elbroch is the biologist doing the study. He happens to be from Sequim... I wonder if he has a connection with Lorna Smith? Hmmm.

https://panthera.org/panthera-united-states
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

Confucius

Offline ducks4days

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #15 on: July 12, 2023, 07:32:32 PM »
He happens to be from Sequim... I wonder if he has a connection with Lorna Smith? Hmmm.

https://panthera.org/panthera-united-states

Israel Keyes was from Colville, best keep an eye on about a tenth of the people on the forum.
What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #16 on: July 12, 2023, 07:56:31 PM »
Their slogan says it all: 

Wild about wild cats?
Americans are systematically advocating, legislating, and voting away each others rights. Support all user groups & quit losing opportunity!

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #17 on: July 14, 2023, 05:36:33 AM »
World wide group with a $20 million dollar budget, 2021, private donations and grants.  Follow the money

Offline zwickeyman

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #18 on: July 14, 2023, 07:57:46 AM »
@Bob33 that article runs in the opposite direction of the long term predator prey study done in ID over 12-15 years. Elk do not move into the open because wolves are sight predators and cougars are ambush. According to the ID study they found that ungulates are pushed into the timber.

 :yeah: Especially when they are calving. They used to calve in the big open meadows until wolves, now they mainly calve back in the dark timber. The old calving grounds were just calf bones for the first 6-7 years after the Wolves were introduced. Fricking sad
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Offline Joyce

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #19 on: July 14, 2023, 10:08:25 AM »
This is the group that did the study. Unfortunately writers these days are lazy and don't cite the actual source. Several article use circular citement, which typically means they are trying to hide something. Mark Elbroch is the biologist doing the study. He happens to be from Sequim... I wonder if he has a connection with Lorna Smith? Hmmm.

https://panthera.org/panthera-united-states

Mark Elbroch is a recent arrival in Sequim, coming from  Jackson, WY.  While it’s likely he has interacted with Lorna Smith, he has certainly worked with Fred Koontz as evidenced by the journal article below that I noted in the citations of the Fred Koontz essay posted in the Advocacy forum.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/comment?id=10.1371/annotation/5bed4c0f-9676-4b24-a598-ea3bb5bbfd80

Offline Special T

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Re: Wolves May Have Cut Wyoming Mountain Lion Population By Half
« Reply #20 on: July 16, 2023, 05:25:06 PM »
Anti hunting g groups run in the same circles and work collaboratively.
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

Confucius

 


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