Hi everyone! In this blog post I want to share some images from this season’s camera study of the other critters in our project area. While we obviously focus on wolves, it’s always great to receive images of other species, especially photos of carnivores, sheep, and prey species on the same cameras as wolves. My dream is to one day pick up a wolverine (Gulo gulo) or fisher (Pekania pennanti), though our stations are not set to target these.
We receive hundreds of images of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and elk (Cervus canadensis) from our cameras. While it’s easy to shrug them off, their importance to wolves should not be underestimated. Wild ungulates (hoofed mammals) make up the majority of wolves’ diets in our region and a healthy ungulate population is key to the longevity of wolves in the area.
Elk with calves moving into high country
Mule deer leg found near a wolf rendezvous site
Blaine County is also home to many other large mammals. Moose (Alces alces) are prevalent in areas with dense forage and shade, especially riparian zones. While a large (15+) wolf pack will sometimes target adult moose, it is more likely that the packs in our area (which are smaller) sometimes target calves.
An adult male moose moves with surprising speed past a camera in a riparian zone
As far as ungulates go, mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) and a handful of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) also exist in our area, though we know much less about wolf interactions with these species. Our cameras tend to be placed outside their choice habitat. Pronghorn (Antilocapra Americana) also thrive here, preferring the open grassy and sagebrush-dominated areas that we cannot easily target with cameras. Evidence from Yellowstone shows that wolf presence actually raises pronghorn fawn survival rate via the presumed suppression of coyotes!
Wolves in Blaine County also share the landscape with a number of other large predators. Mountain lions (Puma concolor), for example, exhibit niche differentiation where wolves are present, meaning that their use of the landscape is modified to avoid potential interference with wolves. In their case, their temporal activity and habitat selection is often dramatically different. Hypothetically, wolves may target larger prey at night while a mountain lion may go after something smaller during the day, or in an area with more variable topography (e.g. rocky outcrops) that better suits their ambush-based hunting style.
A mountain lion patrolling a riparian zone in the evening
Small to medium sized carnivores, dubbed “mesocarnivores”, also dot the landscape. Some of the more commonly observed species are coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes macroura). Coyotes are often thought to be suppressed by wolves (as discussed above), and it will be interesting to see how their occupancy changes as wolves continue to expand through Idaho. We continue to observe them visiting the same locations as wolves, sometimes an hour or less apart. We have spent many hours scratching our heads wondering what provokes this anecdoctal coexistence. It certainly warrants study.
A bobcat and coyote visiting the same camera night and day
A red fox marking a lure log that was visited by a wolf the day prior
The last of the larger mammals in the area we often encounter is the black bear (Ursus americanus). Though technically a carnivore, black bears should be thought of as omnivorous. With approximately 80% of a black bear’s diet consisting of vegetation and insects, there is not as much competition between wolves and bears for ungulate prey. While wolf – black bear interactions are not as studied as their grizzly counterpart, most evidence suggests the species prefer avoiding each other.
Mama bear and cub playing with a lured log. These two were spotted on a trail used by wolves, deer, moose, coyotes, hares, and weasels.
This post is already too full of pictures and we haven’t even considered the smaller predators, such as marten (Martes americana), weasels, and more in the area! While our project is focused on wolves, it’s important to remember the suite of other predator and prey species that coexist to make up a healthy ecosystem here in Blaine County!
Nate Redon
Project Field Technician
Resources:
Ballard, W. B., Carbyn, L. N., & Smith, D. W. (2003). Wolf interactions with non-prey.
Barnowe-Meyer, K. K., White, P. J., Davis, T. L., Smith, D. W., Crabtree, R. L., & Byers, J. A. (2010). Influences of wolves and high-elevation dispersion on reproductive success of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Journal of Mammalogy, 91(3), 712-721.
Bartnick, T. D., Van Deelen, T. R., Quigley, H. B., & Craighead, D. (2013). Variation in cougar (Puma concolor) predation habits during wolf (Canis lupus) recovery in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 91(2), 82-93.
Berger, K. M., Gese, E. M., & Berger, J. (2008). Indirect effects and traditional trophic cascades: a test involving wolves, coyotes, and pronghorn. Ecology, 89(3), 818-828.