Wolves Cougars Yellowstone Predator Study

Wolves Shape Cougar Behaviour In Yellowstone National Park as Prey Theft Drives Predator Encounters

Wolves and Cougars in an Uneven Predator Relationship

A new study reveals that encounters between wolves and cougars in Yellowstone National Park are largely shaped by wolves stealing prey killed by cougars. To reduce risky encounters, cougars have adjusted their diet, shifting towards smaller prey species.

Published amid increasing overlap between wolf and cougar ranges across the western United States, the research found that wolves occasionally killed cougars, while no evidence showed cougars killing wolves.

Related wildlife and ecology coverage:

• Conservation science and wildlife research

How Cougars Avoid Risky Encounters With Wolves

The study also reports that cougars actively avoid sites where wolves have made kills and tend to remain close to escape terrain, such as climbable trees.

As elk numbers declined in Yellowstone, cougars increased their hunting of deer, which are consumed more quickly, further reducing opportunities for wolf interference.

Environmental context:

• Habitat change and ecosystem pressure

Nine Years of Data Reveal Predator Interaction Patterns

Published in PNAS, the research drawn on nine years of GPS tracking data from collared wolves and cougars, alongside field analyses of nearly 4,000 suspected kill sites.

Prey Diversity Key to Coexistence

The findings suggest that peaceful coexistence between the two predators depends less on overall prey numbers and more on prey diversity and access to escape habitats.

Carnivore communities are being reshaped across North America and around the world, according to Wesley Binder, a doctoral researcher at Oregon State University and lead author of the study. He said the research offers valuable insight into how two apex predators compete, helping to guide conservation and recovery efforts.

A History of Decline and Recovery for Wolves and Cougars

During much of the 20th century, government policies in the United States pushed both wolves and cougars close to extinction. Cougars began to recover in the 1960s and 1970s following legal protection, while wolf reintroduction programmes began in 1995, including in Yellowstone National Park. Today, both species are steadily reclaiming large areas of the western United States.

Growing Overlap Sparks Public Interest

Binder noted that many landscapes have seen cougars return over the past two to three decades, with wolves now following. This renewed overlap, he said, has sparked growing public interest in how ecosystems will function with both large carnivores once again sharing the same terrain.

Long-Term Monitoring in Yellowstone National Park

After nearly a decade working with the Yellowstone Cougar Project, Binder began his doctorate at Oregon State University in 2022. During his time in Yellowstone, he helped establish a network of 140 remote camera traps in the park's northern region and took part in the capture and collaring of cougars for long-term monitoring.

Research and field science insights:

• Science, physics, space research

Why Wolves Usually Dominate Cougar Encounters

The study draws on long-standing research showing that wolves usually dominate encounters because they operate in packs, whereas cougars are solitary hunters. Previous work has highlighted a common trade-off for subordinate carnivores: increased risk of death offset by opportunities to scavenge from dominant predators.

Cougars, however, rarely take advantage of such scavenging, preferring to hunt independently, which has made their relationship with wolves harder to predict.

Kill-Site Analysis Reveals Unequal Interactions

Breakdown of Wolf and Cougar Kill Events

Researchers analyzed 3,929 suspected wolf and cougar kill sites, identifying:

• 852 wolf feeding events
• 520 cougar feeding events

Wolves were responsible for 716 confirmed kills and scavenged on 136 occasions, feeding mainly on:

• Elk (542 events)
• Bison (201 events)
• Deer (90 events)

Cougars, by contrast, recorded 513 kills and scavenged only seven times, targeting primarily elk and deer.

Dietary Shifts Over Time

A comparison of data from 1998-2005 with figures from 2016-2024 revealed marked dietary changes:

Wolves:

• Bison increased from 1% to 10%
• Elk declined from 95% to 63%

Cougars:

• Elk consumption fell from 80% to 52%
• Deer increased from 15% to 42%

Biological and ecological insight:

• Species adaptation and survival strategies

Machine Learning Helps Predict Predator Encounters

The team used these kill-site investigations to train machine-learning models that combined GPS tracking data to predict where wolves and cougars were likely to make kills. This approach allowed researchers to link predator movements with probable kill sites and pinpoint what drives interactions between the two species.

The results showed a strongly uneven relationship:

• 42% of wolf-cougar encounters occurred at cougar kill sites
• Only one interaction occurred at a wolf kill site

Cougar and Wolf Mortality in Yellowstone Nation Park

Between 2016 and 2024, researchers recorded 12 adult cougar deaths, two of which were caused by wolves. In both cases, there was no nearby escape terrain and the wolves did not consume the cougars, instead feeding on the elk the cats had killed.

During the same period, 90 wolf deaths were documented, none attributed to cougars with most linked to natural causes or human activity.

Study Authors and Institutional Collaboration

The study was co-authored by Joel S. Ruprecht, Rebecca Hutchinson and Tall Levi of Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences; Jack Rabe of the University of Minnesota and the Yellowstone Center for Resources; and Matthew Metz and Daniel Stahler of the Yellowstone Center Resources. Hutchinson is also affiliated with Oregon State's College of Engineering.

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Horses Sense Human Fear Through Scent study

Horses Can Smell Human Fear, Study Finds

Research Shows Fear Is Detected Scent Alone

Horses really can sense your fear. A new study suggests that when a person feels afraid near a horse, the animal can detect the emotion purely scent — a change that can alter both its behaviour and its physiology. The findings were published in the journal PLOS One.

Scientists Investigate Whether Horses Can Smell Emotions

While it is already well established that dogs can smell human stress, researchers at France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) set out to discover whether horses, long domesticated companions of humans, share this remarkable ability.

Related Science and environment coverage

The Scent of Fear

How Sweat Samples Were Collected

To collect scent samples, researchers asked 30 volunteers to wear cotton pads while watching the horror film Sinister, capturing sweat produced during moments of fear. The same participants later wore pads again while viewing uplifting or humorous clips, when they were calm and in a more positive emotional state. This allowed the team to directly compare how horses responded to fear and joy.

Exposure of Horses to Human Scents

The pads were then placed inside specially designed Lycra muzzles worn by 43 female Welsh horses. The animals were randomly divided into three groups:

• One exposed only to fear-related scent
• One exposed to sweat collected during joyful moments
• One control group fitted with scent-free pads

Behavioural and Physiological Changes Observed

The horses were then put through four behavioural tests:

• Grooming
• Responding to a suddenly opening umbrella
• Being approached by a person
• Investigating a novel object

Researchers closely monitored the animals' reactions throughout each test.

Horses React Strongly to Fear-Related Scents

When exposed to fear-related sweat, the horses became noticeably more alert. They startled more easily, fixated longer on unfamiliar objects, showed sharper spikes in heart rate and were less inclined to approach or make contact with a person.

As the animals could not see the volunteers, there were no facial expression or body-language cues involved, suggesting their reactions were driven purely by scent. Although the researchers did not analyze the chemical make-up of the samples, the response points to chemical signals as the trigger.

More research-driven reporting

What the Findings Reveal About Animal Communication

In their paper, the research team said the results underline the importance of chemosignals in interactions between different species and offer fresh insight into how domestication may have shaped emotional communication.

Improved Animal Welfare Implications

The findings could have far-reaching consequences for animal welfare, suggesting that a handler's emotional state can be passed to a horse through scent alone — even when those emotions are consciously concealed. This insight may reshape approaches to horse training and the way overall equine wellbeing is managed.

Practical Takeaway for Horse Handlers

The researchers added that the practical takeaway is clear: handlers' emotional states matter and these emotions may be transmitted via chemosingnals during everyday human-horse interactions.

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Human health, behaviour and wellbeing resources

Understanding the Link between Dementia and Sleep Disturbance in Dogs

Dementia, a condition commonly associated with aging, is becoming increasingly prevalent in dogs. Sleep disturbances are a common symptom in dogs with dementia, but little research has been done to understand the link between the two. A recent study by researchers at the University of Lincoln in the UK aimed to investigate this connection and provide a better understanding of how to manage the condition. The study revealed that sleep disturbance in dogs with dementia is associated with a decrease in cognitive function, leading to a decline in quality of life for both the dog and their owner. The findings provide valuable insight into the management of dementia in dogs and the importance of addressing sleep disturbances as a part of treatment.

Key Findings:

• Dementia is becoming more common in dogs, and sleep disturbances are a common symptom in affected animals.
• A recent study by researchers at the University of Lincoln aimed to investigate the link between dementia and sleep disturbance in dogs.
• The study found that sleep disturbance in dogs with dementia is associated with a decrease in cognitive function, leading to a decline in quality of life for both the dog and their owner.
• Addressing sleep disturbances as part of treatment for dementia in dogs is crucial to improving quality of life for affected animals and their owners.

Dementia in Dogs:

Dementia, also known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), is a neurological condition that affects dogs as they age. The condition is characterized by a decline in cognitive function, which can result in a range of symptoms, including confusion, disorientation, and changes in behavior. Sleep disturbances, such as waking during the night, are also common in dogs with dementia.

Understanding the Link:

The recent study by researchers at the University of Lincoln aimed to investigate the link between sleep disturbance and cognitive function in dogs with dementia. The study involved assessing sleep patterns and cognitive function in dogs with and without dementia. The results revealed a significant association between sleep disturbance and cognitive decline in dogs with dementia.

The study also highlighted the importance of addressing sleep disturbances as a part of treatment for dementia in dogs. By improving sleep patterns, cognitive function may also improve, leading to an overall improvement in quality of life for the dog and their owner.

Managing Dementia in Dogs:

While there is currently no cure for dementia in dogs, there are ways to manage the condition and improve quality of life for affected animals. Addressing sleep disturbances is one way to manage the condition, and the recent study by researchers at the University of Lincoln provides valuable insight into the importance of doing so.

Other management strategies for dementia in dogs include:

• Providing a comfortable, safe environment for the dog.
• Providing regular exercise and mental stimulation.
• Providing a high-quality, balanced diet.
• Consulting with a veterinarian about medications that may help manage symptoms.

Conclusion: Dementia is becoming increasingly common in dogs, and sleep disturbances are a common symptom in affected animals. The recent study by researchers at the University of Lincoln sheds light on the link between sleep disturbance and cognitive decline in dogs with dementia, highlighting the importance of addressing sleep disturbances as a part of treatment for the condition. By doing so, quality of life for affected animals and their owners may be improved.