Elk as winter-spring food for carnivores in northern Yellowstone National Park
Houston DB. 1978. Elk as winter-spring food for carnivores in northern Yellowstone National Park. Journal of Applied Ecology. 15(3):653-661
The consumption of 759 elk carcasses by the predator-scavenger fauna on the northern winter range of Yellowstone National Park was monitored during winter-spring of 1974-1975 and 1975-1976. About 70% of 503 carcasses were entirely eaten in 1974-1975, 22% partially eaten, and 8% uneaten. Equivalent percentages for 256 carcasses in 1975-1976 wer 67, 16, and 17% This represented an observed consumption of about 35,000kg (80% of that available) in 1974-1975 and about 19,000 kg (75%) in 1975-1976. Actual consumption was much greater. Elk was a major food for the park's predator-scavenger fauna and may be especially important during periodic severe winters.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Houston, Douglas
- Units
- YELL
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Carcasses, Ecology, Elk(Cervus elaphus), Feeding, Food, Mammals, Population, Predators, Range