Beyond 2000 Symposium

Program

Wolf - Prey Interactions

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Beyond 2000:
Realities of Global Wolf Restoration

23-26 February 2000
Duluth, Minnesota USA

Occurrence of pursuit deterrence signals during wolf hunts of elk in Yellowstone National Park: A preliminary assessment

Dan MacNulty (left), University of Minnesota, USA with Dave Mech.

Daniel R. MacNulty, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA; Robert K. Landis, Landis Wildlife Films, PO Box 276, Gardiner, MT 59030, USA; Douglas W. Smith, Kerry M. Murphy, Yellowstone Center for Resources, PO Box 621, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA; L. David Mech, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 37th Street Southeast, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA; Michael K. Phillips, Turner Endangered Species Fund, PO Box 190, Bozeman, MT 59730, USA

Numerous studies of gray wolf (Canis lupus) predation involving inspection of carcass remains have fostered the idea that wolves are able to distinguish between vulnerable and invulnerable prey. Evidence from aerial and ground-based observation of wolves hunting suggests that wolves respond to behavioral cues of physical condition or so-called pursuit-deterrent signals in prey. Workers in Africa's Serengeti have found that stotting in Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsoni) was an honest signal of a gazelle's ability to outrun wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), which wild dogs took into account when selecting gazelles.

Film footage was used to identify and describe pursuit-deterrent signals in elk (Cervus elaphus) being hunted by wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Since wolves are generally limited to killing vulnerable prey they must employ a coursing hunting strategy in order to single out an individual prey animal. To avoid being selected physically fit elk may advertise their ability to escape by standing off or prancing away from attacking wolves. If standing off and prancing are to be considered pursuit-deterrent signals two conditions must be met. First, performance (i.e. duration) of the signal must be closely linked to physical condition. Second, wolves should select elk on the basis of their standing off or prancing behavior. Both wolves and elk would benefit from pursuit-deterrent signals by avoiding energetically costly pursuits.