Spatial predation risk for elk (Cervus elaphus) in a multi-predator community on the Rocky Mountain East Slopes, Alberta

Elk migrating westward into Banff National Park face significantly lower predation risk from wolves, cougars, and bears compared to resident elk and eastern migrants. This study employed a novel, non-invasive method using predator scats to assess summer predation risk in Ya Ha Tinda, Alberta, Canada. By combining scat-based resource selection functions with DNA analysis, researchers identified that elk were more frequently preyed upon by wolves and bears in areas with high herbaceous forage biomass and open habitat, while cougars targeted eastern migrants in regions with dense forest edges. This approach offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional predation risk assessment methods, providing valuable insights into the spatial dynamics of multi-predator communities and their impact on elk behavior.

MacAulay, K. M. (2019). Spatial predation risk for elk (Cervus elaphus) in a multi-predator community on the Rocky Mountain East Slopes, Alberta [University of Alberta Library]. https://doi.org/10.7939/R3-E4WQ-BH87