Yellowstone Predators Coexist Through Strategy, Not Showdowns
A nine-year GPS-based study in Yellowstone shows wolves and cougars coexist mainly through avoidance and shifts in prey, rather than direct confrontations: wolves often take over prey carcasses that cougars have killed, while cougars switch to smaller prey and use escape terrain to minimize encounters. Diets shifted over time (wolves increasing bison and deer, elk share dropping; cougars moving from elk to deer), and cougar deaths occurred primarily when escape terrain was unavailable. Wolves suffered deaths mostly from natural causes or human actions, with no cougar-caused fatalities recorded. The findings suggest coexistence hinges on behavior and landscape, not dominance, informing wildlife management as these predators recolonize the region.