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Beyond 2000:
Realities of Global Wolf Restoration
23-26 February 2000
Duluth, Minnesota USA
J. Henry Fair
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; 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
Interpretations and analyses of predator and prey behavior are
frequently based on the determinants of a successful hunt. Assessing
the importance of several factors in the hunting success of gray
wolves (Canis lupus) is important to establish a framework
for understanding the development, function, and evolution of wolf
hunting behavior and associated prey anti-predator behavior.
Gray wolves restored to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 and
1996 and their offspring were found to be highly visible. Five hundred
and twenty-four hunts were observed from ground-based observation
points and fixed wing aircraft between May 1995 and August 1999.
Biologists observed wolves kill 91 elk (Cervus elaphus),
4 bison (Bison bison), 7 pronghorn (Antilocapra americana),
and 1mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Due to small sample
sizes analyses of hunting success were limited to hunts of elk only.
Stepwise logistic regression was used to simultaneously examine
the influence of 2 environmental, 5 prey-related and 4 wolf-related
factors on the probability of wolves killing elk. Data from 440
hunts and 91 (21%) kills indicated that factors related to the physical
vulnerability of elk were most important in predicting the outcome
of a hunt.
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