WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 — Moose that had never seen wolves or grizzly bears didn’t try to get away when the predators returned to parts of the Yellowstone basin of Wyoming, but it took only a few bloody encounters for the animals to wise up, researchers say.
WOLVES AND GRIZZLIES are back in parts of the sprawling Yellowstone ecosystem, where they had been absent for more than 50 years. Wolf packs were reintroduced, while the bears have naturally colonized the Grand Teton National Park and adjacent forest areas.
The wolves and bears immediately feasted on the innocence of the moose in the areas, easily catching, killing and eating animals that had never known such predators.
At first, said Joel Berger, first author of a study appearing Friday in the journal Science, the wolf and bear merely had to walk up to a moose. There was little attempt by the moose to run, he said.
“We were like forensic scientists” in studying the kills, said Berger, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and researcher for the Wildlife Conservation Society. He said it was clear from tracks and other evidence that the predators at first made easy kills.
“We got direct evidence of grizzlies killing 10 adult moose,” said Berger. An adult moose can weigh almost 1,000 pounds.
Other evidence was found of younger moose standing almost still as they were approached and killed by the wolves that ate them.
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"I'd like an order of fries, a quarter pounder with cheese, I love the light in your eyes, would you go out with me please? I am in love with a McDonald's Girl, she has a smile of innocence so tender and warm, she is an angel in a polyester uniform."
WOLVES AND GRIZZLIES are back in parts of the sprawling Yellowstone ecosystem, where they had been absent for more than 50 years. Wolf packs were reintroduced, while the bears have naturally colonized the Grand Teton National Park and adjacent forest areas.
The wolves and bears immediately feasted on the innocence of the moose in the areas, easily catching, killing and eating animals that had never known such predators.
At first, said Joel Berger, first author of a study appearing Friday in the journal Science, the wolf and bear merely had to walk up to a moose. There was little attempt by the moose to run, he said.
“We were like forensic scientists” in studying the kills, said Berger, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and researcher for the Wildlife Conservation Society. He said it was clear from tracks and other evidence that the predators at first made easy kills.
“We got direct evidence of grizzlies killing 10 adult moose,” said Berger. An adult moose can weigh almost 1,000 pounds.
Other evidence was found of younger moose standing almost still as they were approached and killed by the wolves that ate them.
Want to learn more?
http://www.msnbc.com/news/528410.asp
------------------
"I'd like an order of fries, a quarter pounder with cheese, I love the light in your eyes, would you go out with me please? I am in love with a McDonald's Girl, she has a smile of innocence so tender and warm, she is an angel in a polyester uniform."
