And just when we thought we had it figured out, along comes another study that shows that elk don’t alter their eating behavior when wolves are present. Just who are we to believe?
Earlier, a study done by the University of Oregon, showed that elk do change their eating habits according to wolf predation. This new study, conducted by Matt Kauffman, a professor of zoology and physiology at the University Wyoming, as well as Yellowstone National Park biologist Doug Smith and researchers from the University of Montana and University of Alberta, showed just the opposite.
Earlier this week I did an article on the contradiction of science called, “Who Should We Believe? Scientists Or Scientists?“. This is another example of how studies can show different results depending on several factors. The one thing that will change results of studies is better science. When better science becomes available, test results can vary considerably.
One has to at least ask the question as to whether some studies are politically motivated. This is why many people, including the scientists, don’t put a lot of emphasis or value on studies.
Results of such as study as this one could have an effect on the argument about the introduction of wolves into certain areas. In Colorado for instance, officials there are considering bringing wolves in to reduce the elk herd in and around the Rocky Mountain National Park. Part of that argument in favor of the introduction is that the wolves will “make the elk more wild” and drive them out of certain feeding areas so the vegetation will recover, necessary for food for other animal species.
This new study, according to Whitney Royster of the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, showed that elk are more interested in getting a good meal than fleeing wolves.
His research showed that the predation risk is driven more strongly by habitat features than distribution of wolf packs. Elk are more likely to be killed in open meadows than in forested areas with slopes.
The research also concluded that elk do not adjust their willingness to forage based on areas that are riskier for predation. Instead, elk will forage where food is available, particularly in later months in the winter when there is less food.
I think we can conclude a couple of things from this. One, the jury is still out and we continue to study and learn about wildlife habitat, etc. The other is that we need to be cautious as to who and what we believe is being said about the biology of animal species and habitat. We know that new and better science will change information. We also know that politics play a role in swaying the results of “studies”. In other words, results can be easily manipulated to achieve a desired end.
I’m not accusing either of these study groups of playing politics. Usually we can determine these sorts of things by who is paying the bill for such studies. I do not have information on who funded either of the above mentioned studies.
Tom Remington
