Wyoming study finds cougars avoid wolf territory

Posted: Jun 22, 2014 

 

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - New research in Wyoming finds that mountain lions go out of their way to avoid wolves.

The research conducted by the Teton Cougar Project finds that the cats In Jackson Hole spend a disproportionate amount of time in parts of their territory that are far from wolves and tend to distance themselves from wolves.

The study was published in the Journal of Zoology in late May.

Cougar Project team leader Mark Elbroch says because wolves select top-tier territories with the most available prey, subordinate mountain lions are being pushed away from the most productive parts of the landscape.

Elbroch tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide (http://bit.ly/UoEM0p) that there's a reduction in lion habitat in the sense that they are prioritizing habitat differently.


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