Return of the wolves: How deer escape tactics help save their lives

Date:  February 27, 2019

Source:  University of Washington

As gray wolves continue to make a strong comeback in Washington state, their presence can't help but impact other animals -- particularly the ones these large carnivores target as prey.

White-tailed deer and mule deer, two distinct species common in Washington, are among wolves' favorite catch. Wolves will chase deer great distances -- sometimes upwards of 6 miles (10 kilometers) -- in search of a satisfying meal. How these two deer species respond to the threat of being pursued by wolves in the early years of this predator's return could shed light on changes to their behavior and numbers.

To help answer this question, researchers from the University of Washington and other institutions monitored the behavior and activity of wolves and deer in Washington for three years. They found that mule deer exposed to wolves, in particular, are changing their behavior to spend more time away from roads, at higher elevations and in rockier landscapes.

"In any particular ecosystem, if you have a predator returning, prey are unlikely to all respond similarly," said senior author Aaron Wirsing, an associate professor in the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. "We show that wolves don't have a uniform effect on different deer species."

Their results were published Dec. 11 in the journal Oecologia.

Read on

Red and eastern wolves are probably not recent hybrids

Date: June 7, 2017

Source: University of Idaho

A team led by University of Idaho researchers is calling into question a widely publicized 2016 study that concluded eastern and red wolves are not distinct species, but rather recent hybrids of gray wolves and coyotes. In a comment paper that will publish Wednesday, June 7, in the journal Science Advances, the team examines the previous study and argues that its genomic data and analyses do not definitively prove recent hybridization -- but rather provide support for the genetic and evolutionary distinctiveness of red and eastern wolves.

"The history of these species is complex and certainly contains evidence for hybridization in the past. The question is timing," said Paul Hohenlohe, an assistant professor of biological sciences in the UI College of Science and the lead author of the comment paper. "The data and analyses aren't actually a good test of recent vs. older hybridization. In fact, the data are consistent with red and eastern wolves having a long evolutionary history as distinct lineages."

Hohenlohe co-authored the paper with an interdisciplinary team that included co-lead author Linda Rutledge, a research associate in the biology department at Trent University in Ontario, Canada; Lisette Waits, a Distinguished Professor in UI's College of Natural Resources Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences; UI research scientist Jennifer Adams; UI postdoctoral researcher Kimberly Andrews; and other researchers from Trent, the University of Georgia and Northland College.

Read on 

Hunting in South Dakota: 4 Animals Designated Nongame, Endangered, Threatened, and Protected Species

Wednesday, 03 Jun 2015 06:58 PM

By Shana Raley-Lusk

South Dakota's pristine backdrops and plentiful game make it a dream destination for hunters and outdoorsmen around the world. While it is known for both large and small game, South Dakota also is home to a number of species which are off limits when it comes to hunting. These animals are protected because they are either endangered or threatened or have been designated as nongame for some other reason, making it illegal to hunt them.

Here is information about four protected species in South Dakota.

1. Gray Wolves

The gray wolf is an important part of South Dakota's natural ecosystem and is currently listed as an endangered species in the state. It is endangered in many parts of the country but has recovered is certain areas where it is no longer considered endangered, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

2. Northern River Otter

Because South Dakota's natural terrain includes many ideal habitats for the playful river otter, it was at one time a plentiful species in the state. It is an adaptable animal, as agile in water as it is on land. Through the years, many factors have led to the virtual disappearance of the river otter, including over-trapping, habitat loss and urban development. It is now considered by the state to be a threatened animal, and measures are being taken to provide suitable habitat for the species. The river otter is off limits for hunting and trapping. The creature bears a strong resemblance to the mink, so the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is taking measures to help hunters identify the otter and distinguish it from other native species. 

Read on ...