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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Extinguishing A Learned Response In A Free-Ranging Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus), L. David Mech Jan 2017

Extinguishing A Learned Response In A Free-Ranging Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus), L. David Mech

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Learning and extinguishing learned behaviour (Thorn dike 1911; Skinner 1953) have been well studied in domestic dogs (Miklosi 2015). Some investigations of learning have been conducted with captive Gray Wolves (Canis lupus; Packard 2003; Frank 2011), including one study that included extinguishing learned behaviour (Cheney 1982). In addition, considerable research has been done comparing social learning be - tween dogs and captive wolves (Range and Viranyi 2013; Marshall-Pescini et al. 2015). However, to my knowledge, only Packard (2012) has studied learning in free-ranging wolves, and no one has investigated extinguishing a learned response in such wolves. The purpose of this …


Sexually Dimorphic Aggression Indicates Male Gray Wolves Specialize In Pack Defense Against Conspecific Groups, Kira A. Cassidy, L. David Mech, Daniel R. Macnulty, Daniel R. Stahler, Douglas W. Smith Jan 2017

Sexually Dimorphic Aggression Indicates Male Gray Wolves Specialize In Pack Defense Against Conspecific Groups, Kira A. Cassidy, L. David Mech, Daniel R. Macnulty, Daniel R. Stahler, Douglas W. Smith

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Aggression directed at conspecific groups is common among gregarious, territorial species, and for some species such as gray wolves (Canis lupus) intraspecific strife is the leading cause of natural mortality. Each individual in a group likely has different measures of the costs and benefits associated with a group task, such as an aggressive attack on another group, which can alter motivation and behavior. We observed 292 inter-pack aggressive interactions in Yellowstone National Park between 1 April 1995 and 1 April 2011 (>5300 days of observation) in order to determine the role of both sexes, and the influence of pack, …


A Serosurvey Of Diseases Of Free-Ranging Gray Wolves (Canis Lupus) In Minnesota, Usa, Michelle Carstensen, John H. Giudice, Erik C. Hildebrand, J. P. Dubey, John Erb, Dan Stark, John Hart, Shannon M. Barber-Meyer, L. David Mech, Steve K. Windels, Andrew J. Edwards Jan 2017

A Serosurvey Of Diseases Of Free-Ranging Gray Wolves (Canis Lupus) In Minnesota, Usa, Michelle Carstensen, John H. Giudice, Erik C. Hildebrand, J. P. Dubey, John Erb, Dan Stark, John Hart, Shannon M. Barber-Meyer, L. David Mech, Steve K. Windels, Andrew J. Edwards

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

We tested serum samples from 387 free-ranging wolves (Canis lupus) from 2007 to 2013 for exposure to eight canid pathogens to establish baseline data on disease prevalence and spatial distribution in Minnesota’s wolf population. We found high exposure to canine adenoviruses 1 and 2 (88% adults, 45% pups), canine parvovirus (82% adults, 24% pups), and Lyme disease (76% adults, 39% pups). Sixty-six percent of adults and 36% of pups exhibited exposure to the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum. Exposure to arboviruses was confirmed, including West Nile virus (37% adults, 18% pups) and eastern equine encephalitis (3% adults). Exposure rates …


Where Can Wolves Live And How Can We Live With Them?, L. David Mech Jan 2017

Where Can Wolves Live And How Can We Live With Them?, L. David Mech

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

In the contiguous 48 United States, southern Canada, and in Europe, wolves (Canis lupus) have greatly increased and expanded their range during the past few decades.They are prolific, disperse long distances, readily recolonize new areas where humans allow them, and are difficult to control when populations become established.Because wolves originally lived nearly everywhere throughout North America and Eurasia, and food in the form of wild and domestic prey is abundant there, many conservation-minded people favor wolves inhabiting even more areas.On the other hand, wolves conflict in several ways with rural residents who prefer fewer wolves. This article discusses …