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Wolves choose ambushing locations to counter and capitalize on the sensory abilities of their prey

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas D Gable
  • Austin T Homkes
  • Sean M Johnson-Bice
  • Steve K Windels
  • Joseph K Bump
  • John Quinn

Abstract

Comprehensive knowledge of ambush behavior requires an understanding of where a predator expects prey to be, which is generally unknowable because ambush predators often hunt mobile prey that exhibit complex, irregular, or inconspicuous movements. Wolves (Canis lupus) are primarily cursorial predators, but they use ambush strategies to hunt beavers (Castor canadensis). Terrestrial beaver activity is predictable because beavers use well-defined, conspicuous habitat features repeatedly. Thus, studying where wolves wait-in-ambush for beavers provides a unique opportunity to understand how predators choose ambush locations in relation to prey activity. We searched 11 817 clusters of GPS locations from wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem, International Falls, MN, and documented 748 ambushing sites and 214 instances where wolves killed beavers. Wolves chose ambush locations: 1) with olfactory concealment to avoid detection from the highly developed olfactory senses of beavers and 2) close (generally

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas D Gable & Austin T Homkes & Sean M Johnson-Bice & Steve K Windels & Joseph K Bump & John Quinn, 2021. "Wolves choose ambushing locations to counter and capitalize on the sensory abilities of their prey," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 32(2), pages 339-348.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:32:y:2021:i:2:p:339-348.
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