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According to researchers from the University of Alberta, who tracked wolves using GPS tracking devices, wolves in the Alberta region take in a substantial amount of their nutrition from cattle. While this fact is no surprise to cattle ranchers in the province, it is nice to have concrete, empirical data to back up this long-held hunch.

The wolf-GPS-tracking study was performed during 2008 and 2009. Researchers found that cattle made up 45% of the diet of wolves’ diets during the summer months, contrasted with a smaller percentage during the winter months (when the wolves switched to wild prey).

Wolves from three different packs had GPS tracking device collars slipped onto their necks. The devices collected GPS data about the wolves’ locations.

The researchers, when analyzing the data, kept an eye out for clusters in which wolves spent a lot of time. These clusters were likely to be feeding sessions — and, sure enough, the clusters were commonly indicative of bone yards. The bone yards were often near cattle ranches.

A great deal of time was spent analyzing the patterns of behavior the GPS study found in wolves. While wolves’ feeding patterns are somewhat unpredictable, there are some patterns (particularly seasonal patterns) that researchers can predict.

After viewing this GPS tracking data and the analysis thereof, researchers are attempting to brainstorm new ways of keeping Cattle in Alberta from falling prey to wolves during the summer months.

Article Written by Greg Minton