Wolves Aid in Pronghorn Fawn Survival

Habitat loss, fences across mitigatory routes, and coyotes strained pronghorn numbers, but we're finding pronghorns are thriving in the company of wolves.

From wyofile.com:

A Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) three-year research study of pronghorn mortality in the Grand Teton National Park concluded that in sectors where there were no wolves, but a high density of coyotes, pronghorn fawn survival rate was only 10 percent.

In areas of known wolf habitat, however, 34 percent of fawns survived. More than 100 pronghorn fawns were radio-collared and monitored over the summers.

“People tend to think that more wolves always mean fewer prey,” said WCS researcher Dr. Kim Berger, lead author of the study. “But in this case, wolves are so much bigger than coyotes that it doesn’t make sense for them to waste time searching for pronghorn fawns. It would be like trying to feed an entire family on a single Big Mac.”

WCS biologists explained that wolves reduce coyote numbers by killing them outright or by causing them to shift to safer areas of the Park not utilized by wolves. After wolves were reintroduced in 1995, according to the WCS study finished in 2008, Grand Teton’s pronghorn population increased by about 50 percent.

To Find details about the study: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303145300.htm

For kids:

Pronghorn Baby Board Book, by Dick Kettlewell