American Wildlife: Yellowstone Edition

Ungulates & Predators

American Wildlife Yellowstone Edition

Predators

Gray Wolf

PHOTOGRAPHBYJOELSARTORE, NATIONALGEOGRAPHICPHOTOARK

Canis Lupus Cougar

Throughout Yellowstone history there have been around 43 wolf packs, although in 2019 only eight remained

Only 2% of mammals have "helpers," which are group members that aren't parents of the offspring but still care for them, and wolves are one of these species The largest wolf pack in Yellowstone was the Druid Peak Pack and in 2001 was recorded to have 37 wolves

Territoriality between packs accounts for 51% of all known wolf mortality

The hybridization with dogs has given the genetic mutation K to wolves, K allows wolves to have a black coat

Puma concolor

Cougars often kill in forested areas with steep terrain

In Yellowstone, cougars are the other top predators with wolves and bears

In 2001, only 42 cougars lived in Northern Yellowstone, because their population was increased 10% after wolves were reintroduced

Cougars' preferred prey is elk, but mule deer are second

Cougar cubs are born with spots, that disappear when they are around 9 months old

Red fox

Vulpes vulpes

PHOTOGRAPHBYDENNIS DONOHUE,DREAMSTIME

A group of foxes is called a skulk or a leash

Fox kits stay with their parents for seven months

Foxes are smarter than most but not all dog breeds the Red Fox is the largest of all fox species in the world; they stand at about 16 inches

In a Fox's eye there is a layer called the tapetum lucidum; this in turn doubles the intensity of images received by the fox.

PHOTOGRAPHBYMLORENZPHOTOGRAPHY/GETTYIMAGES

PHOTOGRAPHBYTOMMURPHY, NATGEOIMAGECOLLECTION

Canis latrans

Coyotes often reuse the dens and burrows of woodchucks and badgers

Coyotes almost always live in family groups called packs

Coyotes are one of the most adaptable canines because of their large diet, ability to live almost anywhere, and their cleverness

Coyotes originated from Mexico but now inhabit almost all of Northern America

Coyotes live for about 14 years

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

There are only 18 documented cases of wolves killing avian scavengers, 6 of which were Golden Eagles in Yellowstone

Golden Eagles have a lifespan of 30 years

Golden Eagles are 33-38 inches tall, and have a wingspan of 6-7.5 feet, while being 6-15 pounds

Golden Eagles can eat and carry 7-month old deer

Golden Eagles are larger and heavier than Bald Eagles

Golden eagle nests are on average 5-6 feet wide and 2 feet high, these nests can weigh hundreds of pounds. The largest golden eagle nest ever recorded was 20 feet tall and 8.5 feet wide!

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Eagles are at risk of being killed by canids because of their slow flight response when chased, larger size, and can be weighted down by recently eaten meat

Bald Eagles have a lifespan of 20-30 years

Bald Eagles are 28-38 inches tall, and have a wingspan of 80 inches, and are 6-14 pounds

Bald Eagles were named after the Old English word, "Balde," which means white

When a Bald Eagle is 4-5 they begin to develop their white head they have been the national symbol for America since 1782

Groups of Bald Eagles are called, convocations

Bald Eagles can soar over 10,000 feet high

PHOTOGRAPHBYJOEL SARTORE, NATIONALGEOGRAPHICPHOTOARK

PHOTOGRAPHBYROBBIEGEORGE, NATGEOIMAGECOLLECTION

Grizzly Bear

Ursus arctos horribilis

Grizzly Bears are 800 pounds, and live to be 25 years old out in the wild

Grizzly bears are the North American subspecies of brown bear

Some Grizzly Bears eat more than 40,000 moths a day

Usually 1.5 to 2 times larger than the Black Bear

The Lifetime home range of Grizzly Bears are 800–2,000 square miles if they are male, while 300–550 square miles if they are female

Grizzly Bears are categorized as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act

Black Bear

Ursus americanus

A group of Black Bears is called a sleuth or a sloth

They weigh 200-600 pounds

Black Bears eat berries, roots, salmon, deer, moose, insects, and sometimes even carrion

Yellowstone is one of the few places in Northern America where Black Bears coexist with Grizzly Bear

Cubs stay withtheir mom for 1-3 years

Canada Lynx

Lynx canadensis

Canada Lynx are incredibly rare in Yellowstone but they were present from 1880-1980, although in 2007 a Lynx was photographed along the Gibbon River and another was observed in Indian Creek Campground in 2010

Lynx are usually limited to conifer forests above 7,700 feet where its primary prey, the snowshoe hare lives, although it is often too insufficient to support lynxes. This makes their habitat larger and farther north,

PHOTOGRAPH BY TOMMURPHY

PHOTOGRAPH BY BARRETTHEDGES/NATIONALGEOGRAPHICIMAGECOLLECTION

PHOTOGRAPHBYNICOLASDORY,YOUR

Gulo gulo

their circumpolar distribution extends south to mountainous areas of the western United States, including the greater Yellowstone area

In 2006–2009 seven wolverines were documented in eastern Yellowstone

Wolverines are 38–47 inches long, and 13–31 pounds. They are opportunistic eaters, that eat burrowing rodents, birds, eggs, beavers, squirrels, marmots, mice, and vegetation, including whitebark pine nuts. in 2009 the first confirmed Wolverine in Colorado, M556, was documented in over 90 years.

American Badger

Taxidea taxus

American Badgers are 22–28 inches long, 13–25 pounds, and are adapted to digging. They eat ground squirrels, pocket gophers, and other small rodents but will also eat ground-nesting birds and their eggs.

Adults preyed on by mountain lions, bears, and wolves. While coyotes and eagles will prey on young.

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

The other name for mule deer is blacktail deer

Mule Deer are incredibly vunerable and winter and usually their population decreases drastically

They are known for the way they jump while running, also known as bounding gait, which allows them to move incredibly quickly

Wolf recovery in Yellowstone had a very little effect on the deer population

both mule deer and white-tailed deer outside of the park are subject to state-regulated harvesting in the fall

Ungulates

American Wildlife Yellowstone Edition

Elk

Cervus canadensis

In 2019, there was an estimated 6,000 elk in Northern Yellowstone, in 1983, there was an estimated 22,000 wolves mostly killed elk that were 17 years old The first year of an elk calf's life is used as A recruitment way into the herd, if they survive they are welcomed in

Elk population declined rapidly after wolves were introduced to Yellowstone

PHOTOGRAPHBYJOELSARTORE, NATIONALGEOGRAPHICPHOTOARK

White-Tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

White-tailed deer are the most common deer species throughout North America, although it has never been abundant in Yellowstone. The population amount in Yellowstone has never been monitored because of their scarcity

Adults are 150–250 pounds, and 3.5 feet at the shoulder. They eat shrubs, forbs, grasses, and conifers in spring. White-tail deer are good swimmers and will use large streams and lakes to escape predators, which is why they are almost only seen close to water-bodies in Yellowstone

PHOTOGRAPHBYJOELSARTORE

Pronghorn

Antilocapra americana

Pronghorns are named after their "pronged" horns, these "horns" are considered neither horns nor antlers but instead a sheath that sheds yearly Both male and female Pronghorns have these sheaths Pronghorns run at speeds of around 60 mph, and they are the second fastest land animal in summer they can be spotted in Lamar Valley by the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana. While in Winter they can be seen between the North Entrance and Reese Creek.

Predators & Ungulates

Ungulates

Bighorn Sheep

Ovis canadensis

All bighorn sheep have horns. The rings on horns can be used to determine their age, although it is easier to count the rings on a ram

bighorn sheep live in small, fragmented populations that are very vulnerable to sudden declines from disease, habitat loss, and disruption of their migratory routes because of roads and other human activities

The horn size of bighorn sheep rams can influence dominance and rank, which affects social relationships within herds.

PHOTOGRAPHBYROBBIEGEORGE NATIONALGEOGRAPHICCREATIVE

Moose

Bull moose shed their antlers in the beginning of winter to help keep energy and survive the harsh winter Yellowstone moose are the smallest of four subspecies of moose In North America Moose in Yellowstone are found in marshy areas of meadows, lake shores, and along rivers.

PHOTOGRAPHBYSHINYOSHINO

PICTURES/NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC

American Bison

Bison Bison Bison

The largest and most important herd of American Bison is found in Yellowstone National Park; this herd was estimated to have around 5,450 American Bison

PHOTOGRAPHBYGLENNNAGEL, DREAMSTIME

The word buffalo is derived from the French word, "bœuf," a name given to bison from French fur trappers working in the U.S. and Early American settlers called bison "bufello" due to the similar appearance between the two animals, and the name "buffalo" stuck for the American variety.

American bison were on the brink of extinction just over a century ago.

Predators & Ungulates

Alces alces

Why the Food Chain is important…

The food chain has been an incredibly essential aspect of Yellowstone History.

The food chain is essential to Yellowstone's history because it plays a vital role in preserving the balance of the park's ecosystem.

Yellowstone's predators, such as wolves and bears, keep the herbivore population in check, which in turn prevents overgrazing and allows the vegetation to thrive. This healthy ecosystem supports a diverse array of wildlife, making Yellowstone a distinctive and beneficial natural habitat. Ecosystems are influential because they supply vast range of benefits such as regulating the climate, purifying air and water, stabilizing plant as well as animal life, and providing resources like food, medicine, and lumber They also contribute to the economy through activities like tourism and recreation Additionally, ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the planet's biodiversity and overall health

Cause-Specific mortality of Radio Collared wolves from 1995-2018: Intraspecifi c

The reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park had a significant impact on both predators and prey. The wolves helped to control the overpopulation of deer and elk, which in turn allowed for the regeneration of vegetation. This benefited other animals like beavers, birds, and fish. Additionally, the wolves' presence caused changes in the behavior of the prey, leading to a more natural ecosystem balance. For example, the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park has had a significant impact on the bison population. Wolves primarily prey on elk, but their presence has led to a reduction in the elk population, which has allowed the bison population to increase. Additionally, the presence of wolves has altered the behavior of bison, causing them to move more frequently and stay in smaller groups to avoid becoming easy prey.

Douglas W smith, Daniel R Stahler, Daniel R Macnulty

Bighorn Sheep

Yellowstone