“... [study covered] winters 1999-2001 in Idaho...” (Abstract)

“... 120 wolf-killed and 98 cougar-killed ungulates on our study site. Elk were the primary prey for both predators, followed by mule deer. Both predators preyed disproportionately on elk calves and old individuals; among mule deer, wolves appeared to select for fawns, whereas cougars killed primarily adults. Nutritional status of prey, as determined by percent femur marrow fat, was consistantly poorer in wolf-killed prey.” (Abstract)

“...the longer prey chases and lower capture success of wolf packs mandated a stronger selection for disadvantaged prey. For cougars, prey selection seemed to be limited primarily by prey size, which could be a function of the solitary hunting behavior of this species and the risks associated with capturing prime-aged prey.” (Abstract)

“...wolf kills were more likely to occur in bottom/riparian areas along south facing aspects when compared to a selection of ramdom points...” (597)

“The greater portion of wolf-killed prey approaching starvation levels suggested by others (Greer 1968, Mech et al. 1995) illustrates the partially compensatory nature of wolf predation” (599)

“... wolf kills were not habitat-specific... kill sites appeared to be dictated more by characteristics of the prey; ungulates were killed primarily in bottom/riparian zones where flight ability may have been inhibited...” (599-600)

“To our knowledge, the results presented herein are the first demonstrating strong evidence for differential prey selection due to hunting behavior among terrestrial carnivores.” (600)