Wolf (Canis lupus)

[Shadow]

(09-29-2020, 09:14 PM)TheNormalGuy Wrote:

(09-29-2020, 12:44 PM)Shadow Wrote:

(09-28-2020, 03:50 AM)TheNormalGuy Wrote:

Composition of Yellowstone Wolf Kills (1995-2019)

1995 : 50 Kills

- 48Elks (96 %)
- 1 Moose (2 %)
- 1 Mountain Goat (2 %)

1996 : 142 kills

- 137 Elk (96.5 %)
- 2 Moose (1.4 %)
- 1 Pronghorn (0.7 %)
- 1 Mule Deer (0.7 %)
- 1 White-Tailed Deer (0.7 %)

1997 : 257 kills

- 234 Elk (91.0 %)
- 8 Moose (3.1 %)
- 6 Mule Deer (2.3 %)
- 2 Bison (0.8 %)
- 1 Beaver (0.4 %)
- 6 Unidentified Animals (2.3 %)

1998 : 109 definite and 120 probable wolf kills [229]

- 197 elk (86 %)
- 6 mule deer (3%)
- 7 coyote 

It´s nice to see bisons there in statistics. Not because I would like to see them killed, but because when knowing how close to extinction they were and now they seem to be doing better all the time. It´s one iconic species and should really be protected as much as wolves. Both have their place in wildlife.

They had become too abundant [bisons] in the park and needed regulation from park authorities. They are very very well established in the park and have an healthy population.


On another note, the wolves introduced in yellowstone in 1995 were elk hunting wolves. The Nez Perce Pack were canadian wolves hunting bison. They were introduced in 1996. Both Crystal Creek (introduced in 1995, Now Mollie's) and The Nez Perce Pack recorded bison kills in 1997 ; The first year were wolves kill bison in YNP since reintroduction.

As you can by the statistic of the post containing all the datas, bison tend to rise in % while elk slighty decreased. Bison is becoming really an important food source of bison, example 1/5 animals killed by wolves in 2019 were bisons.

Yeah, hopefully regulation of bisons is left for natural predators, not by people. At least at this point when they are still far from the numbers what they were in past. Naturally same kind of numbers as 200 years are impossible, but I don´t think, that in reality there would be too many bisons yet. Current population is just a small fraction when comparing to what it once was. And I think, that there would be enough space and everything if people want to see bisons migrating as in past. In my country we have a lot of different kind of solutions to protect traffic and same time allowing wild animals to move. Fences keeping moose off the roads, where most of the cars drive higher speeds and tunnels every now and then so, that animals can cross roads safely by going under. These things have been made especially to have less collisions with moose and deer so, that they still can mix populations. And these things are relatively functional, it´s rare that big animals get there in between of fences.

A little bit off the topic, but when looking at situations filmed or photographed in different countries, it makes to think could things be developed in some places relatively easily to avoid accidents. Less accidents, the more positively people think of wildlife. Naturally it demands thinking and imagination to find out good solutions, some things can be copied but not all. Reply