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Indeed. If deer have a "Boogey Man" that haunts them, it would be the Mountain Lion.

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True enough, tho lion numbers are relatively low and have been relatively easily managed.

For some time I've doubted the commonly repeated line that wolves exclusively take elk while elk are available, having seen substantial wolf activity among whitetail deer..

Recently, I read a study that noted the primary research showing wolf predation on elk was done in Yellowstone Park, where of course elk predominate and where the deer species is mule deer in uch less dense populations than whitetails here.

A study done in Western Montana showed deer to be the primary prey of wolves there. Thus, I feel that may apply elsewhere as well and may occur here, too. F&G's management plan recognises this as a possiblity.

Studies now indicate 16+ ungulates per wolf per year, but this of course implies the larger prey are the largest percentage of kills. More information will of course be made public as studies continue. I just spoke to a farmer on the other side of the mountains in the western part of the county. He notes heavy elk damage to some of his field crops, and describes larger herds of elk being pushed over the mountains by wolves into his fields there.

We see this in a different way; elk have left the area for longer and longer times, and it appears to me that the coyotes are actually following the wolves that are following the elk, killing deer as targets of opportunity along the way. I believe but cannot prove that the coyotes are following the wolves to make use of carcasses from "joy" killing. Wolves have been noted to very frequently kill for sport or just out of instinct, leaving carcasses untouched. SOMETHING is making use of those carcasses, and I suspect it is yotes along with the obvious eagles and other woods trash that wades in, too.

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Edited by 9.3x57 (06/04/09 06:35 AM)

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