Characteristics of Wolf Attacks on Moose in Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska

Wildlife managers often need to determine if wild animals, particularly ungulates, were killed by predators or if they died of other causes. Research has been conducted with livestock to help distinguish between losses to predators and losses from other causes (Browns et al., 1973; Connolly et al., 1976; Murie, 1948; Wade, 1973; Wiley and Bolen, 1971). characteristic wounds and field signs resulting from predator attacks on deer and other wild ungulates have also been described (Crisler, 1958; Gray 1970; Mech, 1970; Murie, 1944; Nielson, 1975; Ozoga and Harger, 1966). The present paper describes attack patterns and wounds inflicted on moose @ices alces) by wolves (Canus lupus) and comments on attacks by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) on ungulates in Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska. Visible wounds associated with attacks were examined to determine if the predator could be identified by type and location of wounds. The area surrounding carcasses was searched for blood, tracks, broken vegetation, and other signs that might aid in identifying the predator involved. From May 1974 to September 1977 the senior author examined 11 moose that had been injured or killed by wolves. All had cuts on the posterior surface of one or both rear legs. The posterior leg wounds occurred from the -hock dorsally midway up the rump and varied from small superficial cuts concealed by hair to gaping skin perforations over 4 cm in diameter. Subcutaneous hemorrhage and muscle contusion was evident beneath the more severe skin lacerations. Injuries on the rear legs were apparently made by canine teeth of wolves as they gripped the legs of moose from the rear. Such attacks have often been considered attempts to hamstring prey (Young, 1944). Generally, hamstringing refers to severing the Achilles tendon but no severed tendons were noted among the moose killed by wolves in this study, even when posterior leg tendons were exposed and muscles damaged. Mech (1970) was critical of out that no recent studies of the killing tactics of wolves indicated that hamstringing is common. Another sign of wolf attack on moose which we observed on two occasions was tooth punctures of the fleshy nose. These punctures caused bleeding and blood was sprayed on vegetation and snow. Blood was apparently atomized ! early reports of prey hamstringing by wolves (Young, 1944), and he pointed