Unusual Behavior by Bison, Bison bison, Toward Elk, Cervus elaphus, and Wolves, Canis lupus

Auteurs-es

  • L. David Mech U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 - 37th Street, SE, Jamestown, North Dakota 58401-7317
  • Rick T. McIntyre National Park Service, Yellowstone Center for Resources, P. O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190
  • Douglas W. Smith National Park Service, Yellowstone Center for Resources, P. O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v118i1.892

Mots-clés :

Bison, Bison bison, Wolf, Canis lupus, Elk, Cervus elaphus, Yellowstone National Park

Résumé

Incidents are described of Bison (Bison bison) in Yellowstone National Park mauling and possibly killing a young Elk (Cervus elaphus) calf, chasing wolves (Canis lupus) off Elk they had just killed or were killing, and keeping the wolves away for extended periods. During one of the latter cases, the Bison knocked a wolf-wounded Elk down. Bison were also seen approaching wolves that were resting and sleeping, rousting them, following them to new resting places and repeating this behavior. These behaviors might represent some type of generalized hyper-defensiveness that functions as an anti-predator strategy.

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Numéro

Vol. 118 No. 1 (2004)

Rubrique

Articles

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