Gray Wolf, Canis lupus (two color variations)
American Black Bear, Ursus americanus
Gray Wolf Reintroduction
Yellowstone National Park
Predatory Animals in Yellowstone National Park that also Prey on Elk
Ecological research studies have found that Yellowstone wolves feed mainly on elk (Cervus elaphus) during the winter. In the summer, in addition to elk, they feed on deer and bison. However, other animals in Yellowstone also prey on elk. The assemblage of species that utilize a shared resource is referred to as a guild. If the resource becomes limited, then there is the potential for competition to occur between guild members for the resource. This type of interrelationship requires rigorous research to determine if it is occurring and, if so, then what impact will have on the abundance and distribution of the wolves and the species they compete with.
Predator Guild
Elk, Cervus elaphus
Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos
Coyote, Canis latrans
Mountain Lion, Puma concolor
Credits: Elk, Gray Wolf, Grizzly Bear, American Black Bear, Coyote, Mountain Lion (Louis Agassiz Fuertes )