Posted by Ranger Sally (165.83.4.57) on March 14, 2002 at 15:21:33:
In Reply to: Elk 2 posted by JJ on March 14, 2002 at 13:01:59:
: How many young elk are killed each year by wolves?
: Will it eventually have a dramatic affect on their population?
In 2000, park staff detected approximately 281 probable elk kills were made by wolves. The composition of these kills was 34% calves (0-12 months), 34% cows, 19% bulls and 13% unknown sex and age. 34% (calf kills) of 281, means that approximately 96 calves were killed. The elk that summer in Yellowstone number approximately 30,000 (wintering elk vary from 12,000-20,000). As you can tell, 95 is a very small percentage of the total number of elk. However, it is possible that over time, wolf kills will have an effect on the elk population.