kqynkukaposter2005

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Acknowledgments Research Mentors: Jarod Raithel & Nyeema Harris TRAIN Mentors: Pat Hurley & Penny Kukuk and Ron Howell Funding: Project TRAIN Undergraduate Research Fellowship, provided by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to the University of Montana. Introduction Calf elk recruitment has progressively declined in West-Central Montana over the past 3 decades, causing concern for wildlife managers. I participated in a study that is radio-marking newborn calf elk to determine if decreasing recruitment is primarily a function of inadequate nutrition, increased predation, or a low proportion of mature bulls. I analyzed characteristics of calves killed by cougar and black bear from 2002-2004 to provide wildlife researchers information about differentiating between these two predator species on calf elk. Abstract Calf elk recruitment has progressively declined in elk herds across the West, including on our study site in the Garnet Mountains of West-Central Montana. In response to this management concern, there are four on-going cause-specific calf elk mortality research studies. We provide researchers with information to precisely differentiate between calf elk killed by black bear and cougar, two primary predators upon calf elk. We identify kill characteristics as important predator identifiers if they occurred in at least 70% of calf elk mortality cases. Materials and Methods From summer 2002 to 2004, we captured, processed, and radio-marked 121 newborn elk with mortality-sensing, radio ear tag transmitters and expandable, break-away radio collars. After instrumentation, calf elk radio-transmitters were monitored 1-2 times daily to determine their status. Mortality signals were investigated immediately in daylight hours to determine cause of calf death. Mortality scenes were slowly and systematically examined for evidence including: predator sign (scat, tracks, guard hairs) and site disturbance. Preliminary examinations occurred in the field documenting: caching patterns, gross external wounds, predator consumption patterns, canine puncture wounds, and presence of internal trauma, etc. I conducted an analysis of mortality data I collected in 2004 and existing mortality data from 2002-2003 to identify predator characteristics associated with calf elk kills. Results 27 of the 121 (22%) radio-marked calves died from 2002-2004, including 19 cases of predation (16%), and 17 cases where the predator was positively identified. Bear predation (primarily black bear) was the leading source of calf mortality (37%) and cougar predation was the second greatest source of mortality (15%) (Figure 3) I identified the following characteristics as important identifiers of calf elk killed by black bear (exhibited in at least 70% of cases): banana-peeled hide (Photo 1,6), majority of bone consumed (excluding long bones), all internal organs consumed, bear scat present, and calf skull crushed and presumably consumed (Photo 6) (Figure 1). I identified the following characteristics as important identifiers of calf elk killed by cougar (exhibited in at least 75% of cases): plucking tufts of hair, circular rib entrance wound (Photo 3), canine punctures wounds in windpipe or vertebrae (Photo 5), claw lacerations, carcass cached, stomach rejected, and liver completely or partially consumed (Photo 2). Discussion and Conclusions There are currently four on-going calf elk cause-specific mortality research studies. My objective is to provide researchers with relevant information to help precisely and consistently distinguish between two primary sources of calf elk mortality, black bear and cougar. I have identified multiple characteristics of cougar and bear predation that are frequently associated with calves killed by these predators. Researchers would benefit from looking for the characteristics that I have identified in distinguishing between cougars and bears. I have focused on cougars and bears because they are the primary sources of calf elk mortality in the Garnet Mountains from 2002-2004. Differentiating Between Calf Elk Killed By Black Bear And Cougar Literature Cited Griffel, D.E., and J.V. Basile. 1981. Identifying sheep killed by bears, May 1981. Research Note INT-313, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service. Kunkel, K.E., and D.H. Pletscher. 1999. Species-specific population dynamics of cervids in a multipredator system. Journal of Wildlife Management 63(4):1082-1093. O’Gara, B.W. 1978. Differential characteristics of predator kills. Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula. Ruth, T.K., J.J. Jonkel, and K.E. Kunkel. 1994. Kill evaluation and categorization chart, compiled December 1994 (unpublished), utilized by Kunkel and Pletscher 1999. Wade, D.A., and J.E. Bowns. 1985. Procedures for evaluating predation on livestock and wildlife. Bulletin Number B-1429, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M University, San Angelo. Kqyn Kuka, University of Montana, Project TRAIN Undergraduate Research Fellow Photographs 2 & 3: Partially consumed calf elk liver killed by cougar (top left); Typical cougar entrance wound on calf elk (top right) Photograph 1: “Banana-peeled” calf elk carcass killed by black bear in summer 2004 Figures 1 & 2: Bar graph of bear kill characteristics on calk elk (below left); Table of cougar kill characteristics on calf elk (below right). Photographs 4 & 5: Bear canine puncture wounds on a calf elk (below left); Cougar canine puncture wounds on calk elk (below right). Photograph 6 & Figure 3: Calf elk skull crushed by black bear (above); Pie chart of sources of calf elk mortalities 2002-2004 (below).