From George Wuerthner:
Here's a Ph.D. thesis that just came out that is yet another piece of research suggesting that disruption of social ecology of wolf packs by indiscriminate killing may result in more conflicts. In this case, smaller packs kill more prey per capita than larger packs.
This paper suggests that smaller packs will kill 3 times the amount of prey needed to sustain themselves compared to larger packs. Again this is just hypothetical, but it makes sense that random killing of wolves (by predator control and/or hunters/trappers) actually can increase the conflict with hunters because for a given area having 2-3 small packs compared to one large pack might in the end result in greater prey kill.
Similar research in Wisconsin showed that smaller packs were more likely to prey on livestock as well.
This paper suggests that smaller packs will kill 3 times the amount of prey needed to sustain themselves compared to larger packs. Again this is just hypothetical, but it makes sense that random killing of wolves (by predator control and/or hunters/trappers) actually can increase the conflict with hunters because for a given area having 2-3 small packs compared to one large pack might in the end result in greater prey kill.
Similar research in Wisconsin showed that smaller packs were more likely to prey on livestock as well.
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3 comments:
If nothing else, this makes sense as multiple packs will expend energy defending from each other's packs rather than idle (play) time with young or socialization, both of which benefit the pack more to begin with. It takes more energy to 'be weary' all the time than not to (just ask the TSA).
Thanks or posting this, Rick. We need to make sure that facts about the implications of destroying social structure are out there. Moreover, folks need to understand that phenomenon like "trophic cascades" are compromised when wolves are not allowed to establish sufficient structures and populations to cause the effect.
Bob Ferris
Cascadia Wildlands
Bob and Mark.............thanks for your comments.............It is not just about how many wolves exist in the Rocky Mtns or the great Lakes or in North Carolina...........It is about the social integrity of the population and allowing family units to fulfill their ecological functions...........We do not eat wolves ..............no reason to hunt them!
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