Wolf (Canis lupus)

[TheNormalGuy]

*This image is copyright of its original author

Figure 4. Flow diagram of predator–prey encounters for wolves and elk in Yellowstone
National Park (YNP) since 1926. Modified from Lima and Dill (1990).


From : 

Wolves and the Ecology of Fear: Can Predation Risk Structure Ecosystems ?

WILLIAM J. RIPPLE AND ROBERT L. BESCHTA

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*Note* : I found that this figure represented the goal of the study to see how the behaviour of big herbivores like elks is modified by the absence/presence of natural predators.

We can observe and analysed that in the 70 years without wolves, elks "evolved" (more likely took this opportunity) to feed on any type of habitat without being predated. Therefore, they were seen [in the wolf absence period] in forests, mountains, plains, marshs .... everywhere.

They are big grazers. They eat a lot. A Coyote won't hunt elk. A bear will occasionnally take a calf or cow elk. Well it will take an elk opportunistically. Bears hibernate in winter. Elks continue to eat.

Food for others animal came short and some vanished from yellowstone in that time period.

However, with the wolf reintroduction, elks came back to their normal habitat and species that had vanished came back in the park.

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