Predator vs predator

rickyrick · June 12, 2012, 07:24 PM

http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/pre...ollared-wolves

Quote:

HAMILTON, Mont. (AP) — Mountain lions have killed two radio-collared wolves in the Bitterroot Valley since January, a state wolf specialist in Montana says, and two others were killed last year.

“I haven't heard of it happening anywhere else,'' Liz Bradley of Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks told the Ravalli Republic (http://bit.ly/LUyQq8). “It's pretty interesting that the Bitterroot has had so many.''

She found a dead wolf last week with skull puncture wounds that are a trademark of a mountain lion.

“It's hard to say what happened,'' Bradley said. “There was no elk or deer carcass nearby that they may have been competing over.''

She said the lion ate part of the wolf and covered the rest with debris.

In January, she found another dead wolf west of Lolo with the same wounds. In that case, a deer carcass nearby indicated that the two predators apparently fought.

“That one was probably a conflict,'' she said. “They compete for the same resource. When there is overlap in areas where you have lots of prey, conflicts occur.''

She said last year she found two other wolves with puncture wounds in their skulls. Now, only four packs in the Bitterroot Valley have a wolf with a radio collar. At the end of last year, Bradley had collars in seven packs in the Bitterroot. She estimates that there are 14 packs in the area.

“It's too bad because we don't have those now,'' she said. “Ideally, we would have at least half of the packs collared in the Bitterroot.''

She said the largest pack has nine wolves, while most have four to seven, and that several just have a male and female. The number of wolves in the area is between 60 and 70.

“That's a little bit lower than what we had in 2011,'' she said. “We had about 80 last year. We had some mortality.''

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Information from: Ravalli Republic, http://www.ravallirepublic.com

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CDW4ME · June 13, 2012, 08:23 AM

Mountain lions are good for something.

sc928porsche · June 14, 2012, 02:15 PM

Strange. Most wolves hunt in packs. Mountain lions will usually run off when confronted by a wolf (singular) unless it is a fight over carcass.

CCCLVII · June 15, 2012, 10:12 AM

wow that is nutts

Saltydog235 · June 15, 2012, 11:51 AM

Wonder what they'd do with a bunch of hogs?

Buzzcook · June 15, 2012, 12:28 PM

Usually it's the other way around. Either a smart cat or a dumb dog.

jgcoastie · June 15, 2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltydog235

Wonder what they'd do with a bunch of hogs?

I don't know, but I want there to be video when it happens.

sc928porsche · June 16, 2012, 04:14 PM

Hogs are on the mountain lions food list.

June 13, 2012, 08:23 AM	#2
CDW4ME Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Posts: 516	Mountain lions are good for something. __________________ No internal lock or magazine disconnect on my pistols!

June 14, 2012, 02:15 PM	#3
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: now living in alabama Posts: 2,325	Strange. Most wolves hunt in packs. Mountain lions will usually run off when confronted by a wolf (singular) unless it is a fight over carcass. __________________ No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.

June 15, 2012, 10:12 AM	#4
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 231	wow that is nutts __________________ "I ask, Sir, What is the militia?" "Its the whole of the people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them" -George Mason Co-Author of the second amendment.

June 16, 2012, 04:14 PM	#8
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: now living in alabama Posts: 2,325	Hogs are on the mountain lions food list. __________________ No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.

June 15, 2012, 11:51 AM	#5
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 956	Wonder what they'd do with a bunch of hogs?

June 15, 2012, 12:28 PM	#6
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 5,251	Usually it's the other way around. Either a smart cat or a dumb dog.