Seasonal patterns of predation for gray wolves in the multi‐prey system of Yellowstone National Park

Gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park exhibit marked seasonal variation in predation patterns, driven by changes in prey vulnerability. Contrary to expectations, kill rates were highest in summer when measured as the number of ungulates acquired per wolf per day, but lowest when quantified as biomass acquired per wolf per day. This contradicts prior research suggesting minimal seasonal variation in biomass acquisition for large terrestrial carnivores. The study, based on 14 winters and five spring-summer periods (1995-2009), found that kill rates were not well correlated among seasons, making it unreliable to infer year-round average kill rates from short-term observations. Predation patterns were influenced by the nutritional condition of adult elk and the availability of smaller prey, such as elk calves and deer, highlighting the complex dynamics between predators and prey in seasonal environments.

Metz, M. C., Smith, D. W., Vucetich, J. A., Stahler, D. R., & Peterson, R. O. (2012). Seasonal patterns of predation for gray wolves in the multi‐prey system of Yellowstone National Park. Journal of Animal Ecology, 81(3), 553–563. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01945.x