Gray wolves have proven remarkable behavioral flexibility. Indigenous peoples have long navigated and adapted to the shifting movements of elk migration in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. After their reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, the gray wolf population has rebounded to an estimated 500 across the region. New satellite collar research indicates that wolves are intentionally shifting their territorial boundaries during the time of year when they’re rearing pups. They are doing so in anticipation of elk herds’ movements.
This new work, led by Avery L. Shawler, reveals the wolves’ sophisticated pack hunting tactics. Arthur Middleton, a professor of environmental science, policy and management at Berkeley, lauded such critical research. For this project, researchers followed the Cody Herd on the southeast side of Yellowstone. They witnessed all kinds of ambush tactics executed by the gray wolves while watching the group follow behind their favorite meal, the Elk.
Reintroduction and Population Growth
This was the first large scale reintroduction of wildlife within the continental US. The intent of the reintroduction was to restore balance to an ecosystem that had been thrown out of whack by the lack of these top predators. It’s hard to overstate how much this initiative has blossomed in recent years. The gray wolf population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem now thrives at about 500 wolves.
The vibrant population is clear evidence that our conservation work truly works. It gives us a rare glimpse into an intended, positive shift in ecosystem dynamics. Gray wolves are a keystone species and play an important role in healthy ecosystems. They regulate herbivore populations, creating conditions for diverse plant communities and thriving habitats.
Tracking Elk Migration Patterns
From 2019-2021, scientists fitted adaptive GPS collars around the necks of 19 gray wolves and 99 elk to monitor their movements. This study was conducted within the eastern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This massive research effort was dedicated to figuring out exactly how gray wolves have evolved their hunting tactics to follow and take advantage of migratory elk movements. These new results show variability in the timing of annual elk migrations is already on the rise. As one example, elk are reaching their winter ranges as much as 50 days later than they were doing in 2001.
The research focused on when and how these predators pursued the Cody Herd, which is known to have a partially migratory population. For some of Yellowstone’s elk herds, spring migrations have locally shortened to mere miles. Consequently, gray wolf packs that hunted these herds rarely ventured far beyond their established ranges. There, they dug in their headquarters.
Risky Journeys for Survival
As spring sets in, elk shift to higher elevations. Fighting climate change Gray wolves should change both their habits and their tactics to meet grave threats introduced by this change. The research highlights that during this critical period, gray wolves have been observed undertaking risky journeys to move their packs closer to elk herds. You can observe this behavior most clearly when they’re dragging little pups around. These pups, likely just one to two months old, are moved across rocky landscapes to new pack “rendezvous” locations.
Normally, pups stay hidden in the security of their dens until they are around three weeks old. However, to ensure their survival and access to sufficient food sources, adult gray wolves have been documented carrying pups as far as 20 kilometers from their original dens. This landmark ruling underscores the lengths these creatures will go to defend their offspring. It demonstrates their dedication to making sure that their pack thrives.
The Future of Gray Wolves
The ongoing changes in elk migration patterns and the challenges faced by gray wolves reflect broader environmental shifts affecting wildlife populations across North America. California’s long-awaited recolonization of gray wolves since 2011 has resulted in around ten packs becoming established within the state so far. Just as gray wolves are still shifting their behaviors today with changing ecology surrounding them, conservation efforts should be shifting as well.