Direct Observations of a Wolverine Scavenging at an Active Gray Wolf Kill Site

Wallace, Cody; Golla, Julie M.; Allen, Maximilian L.

doi:10.1898/nwn20-13

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In addition to highlighting interference competition and dominance, images from our remote camera indicate that interactions between wolverine and Canada lynx may contain a high level of tolerance, and hunger may have been a motivating factor (Allen et al, 2016) for either or both species tolerating one another. More broadly, our observation further highlights the illuminating new information on intraguild interactions among mesocarnivores that are increasingly available with the use of remote cameras, revealing that these interactions are more complex than previously thought (Allen et al, 2016; Tobajas et al, 2023; Wallace et al, 2021). Future studies should investigate how the frequency and type of intraguild interactions that occur at rich food sources, such as carcasses, are influenced by the composition of the scavenging community, dyadic encounter rates, availability of alternate prey, carcass size, species‐specific traits, and season.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

“…The substantial length of time these individuals remained in close proximity suggests that similar interactions at carcasses may be a potential location for disease transmission (Borchering et al, 2017; Wallace et al, 2021). Canada lynx and wolverine in our region are known reservoirs for pathogens of interest, including Toxoplasma gondii (Bouchard et al, 2023) and Trichinella spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wolves appear to dominate wolverines when they encounter each other and are known to kill them (e.g., van Dijk et al, 2008; White et al, 2002). However, wolverines benefit from prey killed by wolves and may be motivated to seek out wolf kill sites for food (van Dijk et al, 2008), occasionally winning contests with wolves over carcasses (Wallace et al, 2021). On the other hand, wolverines are dominant over smaller mesocarnivores, such as coyotes ( Canis latrans ) and lynx.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both toxoplasmosis and trichinellosis are recognized diseases of concern for humans. Mesocarnivores meeting at carcasses may result in transmitting pathogens across species or increasing prevalence rates in local populations (Tobajas et al, 2023; Wallace et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further observational data on behavioral interactions between syntopic mesocarnivore species with similar ecological niches are needed to increase our knowledge of interference competition, kleptoparasitism, intraguild predation, co-existence, and the potential for disease transmission. Fortunately, observations from remote cameras are rapidly improving our knowledge of interactions between species of mesocarnivores (e.g., Allen et al, 2016;Gomo et al, 2017;Krofel et al, 2019Krofel et al, , 2021, particularly for elusive species such as wolverine (Gulo gulo; Fisher et al, 2022;Wallace et al, 2021) and lynx (Lynx spp. ; Tobajas et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dining with a glutton: an intraguild interaction between scavenging wolverine (Gulo gulo) and lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Jung,

Peers,

Drummond

et al. 2023

Ecosphere

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Intraspecific interactions between mesocarnivores are not commonly observed and consequentially not well understood, particularly for species inhabiting wilderness regions. Using a remote camera, we captured interactions between a Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and wolverine (Gulo gulo) scavenging on the remains of a bison (Bison bison). Over a 23‐min period representing nine photographic sequences (1–3 photographs per sequence), we observed (1) a wolverine approach the remains that were being fed on by a lynx, (2) the two animals feeding on the remains at the same time for about 19 min, (3) the wolverine chasing the lynx off of the carcass and, thereafter, (4) the wolverine excluding the lynx from the carcass. Our observation is of potential scientific value because it sheds light on behavioral interactions between these two species, particularly at a rich food source. Intraguild interactions between these species appear to include tolerance toward one another, as well as interference competition, with the wolverine being the dominant species. Our observation highlights the new information on interactions between mesocarnivores that are becoming illuminated with the use of remote cameras, revealing that these interactions may be more complex than once thought.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Dining with a glutton: an intraguild interaction between scavenging wolverine (Gulo gulo) and lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Jung,

Peers,

Drummond

et al. 2023

Ecosphere

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Carnivore guild utilization of hunter‐provided food sources in boreal forest

Wikenros,

Nordli,

Amato

et al. 2024

Wildlife Biology

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Scavenging is an alternative foraging strategy to predation for many carnivore species, as they shift between predation and scavenging in response to changes in resource availability. The use of carrion may lead to interspecific competition and is thus influenced by a risk–reward trade‐off to balance coexistence with guild‐members, where smaller species are expected to be more vigilant due to their vulnerability to larger competitors. We used cameras to investigate the utilization of viscera from the annual moose Alces alces hunt by four sympatric carnivore species: wolf Canis lupus, wolverine Gulo gulo, red fox Vulpes vulpes and pine marten Martes martes in south–central Scandinavia, in relation to body size and habitat. Red foxes had highest probability of visiting viscera sites in both open and forested habitats. Visits by both red foxes and pine martens were longer in open habitats, while number of visits or activity did not differ between habitats. For pine martens, the probability of visiting viscera sites was twice as high in forest compared to open habitat; consequently, red foxes showed the highest overall use of viscera. Red foxes were most vigilant, especially in open habitat, whereas wolverines and pine martens spent a higher proportion of time feeding. Increased vigilance of red foxes facilitates extended resources use in open habitat, while for pine martens, the risk–reward decision occurs before leaving forest cover and entering open habitats. Viscera were not used to a large extent by wolves or wolverines. Wolves are generally less prone to scavenging and wolverines probably use other food resources, more suitable for caching. Overall, competition did not prevent use of viscera, probably due to small‐scale temporal segregation and limited use by the larger carnivores. Consequently, this pulse of human‐subsidized food resources before winter may have important implications for the smaller facultative scavengers.Keywords: carrion use, interspecific competition, pine marten, red fox, wolf, wolverine

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Carcass provisioning and intra-guild risk avoidance between two sympatric large carnivores

Nordli,

Walton,

Eriksen

et al. 2024

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Apex carnivores that rely primarily on predation play a central but complex role within scavenging ecology by potentially suppressing intra-guild competitors, but also facilitating them by providing a reliable supply of carrion. We investigated the competitive relationship between sympatric wolves (Canis lupus) and wolverines (Gulo gulo) in Norway across three seasons. We deployed remote cameras at fresh wolf kills (n = 29) and built Bayesian generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to explore the use of fresh wolf-killed prey by sympatric wolves and wolverines. Our results showed that wolves facilitated wolverines by providing scavenging opportunities. Biomass available from wolf kills was influenced by seasonal wolf prey preference and group size. Wolverines visited 100% of wolf kills in fall and winter, whereas only 18% in summer. We found that in winter, wolverines visited wolf kills 3.6 and 6.7 times more often than single wolves and wolf groups revisited their kills, and spent 10 and 25 times as much time at carcasses compared to single wolves and groups of wolves. Thus, wolverines played an important role in the depletion of wolf-killed prey, with potential effects on the scavenging behavior of other guild members. Understanding how globally threatened top predators may function as key species in scavenging processes is important to conservation as this may have community-wide cascading effects and support important ecosystem functions and services. Significance statement Large carnivores serve a central role within scavenging ecology through the suppression and facilitation of intraguild competitors. The wolf, as an apex obligate predator, can provide a reliable supply of carrion, that can serve as an important resource to facultative scavengers. However, while facultative behavior helps to mitigate the effects of limited prey for scavengers, it can also increase exposure to competition and intraguild predation. Across three seasons, we explored the use of fresh wolf-killed prey by sympatric wolves and wolverines. Our findings reveal that wolves facilitate wolverines by providing scavenging opportunities, where biomass available from kills is influenced by wolves’ prey preference and group size. Wolverines, like wolves, utilized kills heavily during winter, when increased access to food is important to wolverine reproductive rates. Wolverines exhibited caching behavior, possibly reducing exposure to interspecific competition, while serving an important role in the depletion of carrion biomass.

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Direct Observations of a Wolverine Scavenging at an Active Gray Wolf Kill Site

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Dining with a glutton: an intraguild interaction between scavenging wolverine (Gulo gulo) and lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Dining with a glutton: an intraguild interaction between scavenging wolverine (Gulo gulo) and lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Carnivore guild utilization of hunter‐provided food sources in boreal forest

Carcass provisioning and intra-guild risk avoidance between two sympatric large carnivores

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