David Mech, PhD (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 405
Rescuing wolves: threat of misinformation Rescuing wolves: threat of misinformation
No abstract available.
Authors
L. David Mech
Is science in danger of sanctifying the wolf? Is science in danger of sanctifying the wolf?
Historically the wolf (Canis lupus) was hated and extirpated from most of the contiguous United States. The federal Endangered Species Act fostered wolf protection and reintroduction which improved the species' image. Wolf populations reached biological recovery in the Northern Rocky Mountains and upper Midwest, and the animal has been delisted from the Endangered Species List in those...
Authors
L. David Mech
Use of real-time PCR to detect canine parvovirus in feces of free-ranging wolves Use of real-time PCR to detect canine parvovirus in feces of free-ranging wolves
Using real-time PCR, we tested 15 wolf (Canis lupus) feces from the Superior National Forest (SNF), Minnesota, USA, and 191 from Yellowstone National Park (YNP), USA, collected during summer and 13 during winter for canine parvovirus (CPV)-2 DNA. We also tested 20 dog feces for CPV-2 DNA. The PCR assay was 100% sensitive and specific with a minimum detection threshold of 104 50% tissue...
Authors
L. David Mech, Emily S. Almberg, Douglas Smith, Sagar Goyal, Randall S. Singer
Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk
Despite the popular view that social predators live in groups because group hunting facilitates prey capture, the apparent tendency for hunting success to peak at small group sizes suggests that the formation of large groups is unrelated to prey capture. Few empirical studies, however, have tested for nonlinear relationships between hunting success and group size, and none have...
Authors
Daniel R. MacNulty, Douglas W. Smith, L. David Mech, John A. Vucetich, Craig Packer
Wolf population dynamics in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains are affected by recruitment and human-caused mortality Wolf population dynamics in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains are affected by recruitment and human-caused mortality
Reliable analyses can help wildlife managers make good decisions, which are particularly critical for controversial decisions such as wolf (Canis lupus) harvest. Creel and Rotella (2010) recently predicted substantial population declines in Montana wolf populations due to harvest, in contrast to predictions made by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP). We replicated their analyses...
Authors
J.A. Gude, M.S. Mitchell, Robin E. Russell, C.A. Sime, E.E. Bangs, L.D. Mech, R.R. Ream
Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk
Despite the popular view that social predators live in groups because group hunting facilitates prey capture, the apparent tendency for hunting success to peak at small group sizes suggests that the formation of large groups is unrelated to prey capture. Few empirical studies, however, have tested for nonlinear relationships between hunting success and group size, and none have...
Authors
D.R. MacNulty, D.W. Smith, L. David Mech, J.A. Vucetich, C. Packer
Minnesota wolf ear lengths as possible indicators of taxonomic differences Minnesota wolf ear lengths as possible indicators of taxonomic differences
Genetic findings suggest that 2 types of wolves, Canis lupus (Gray Wolf) and C. lycaon (Eastern Wolf), and/or their hybrids occupy Minnesota (MN), and this study examines adult wolf ear lengths as a possible distinguisher between these two. Photographic evidence suggested that the Eastern Wolf possesses proportionately longer ears than Gray Wolves. Ear lengths from 22 northwestern MN...
Authors
L. David Mech
Wolves, Canis lupus, carry and cache the collars of radio-collared White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, they killed Wolves, Canis lupus, carry and cache the collars of radio-collared White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, they killed
Wolves (Canis lupus) in northeastern Minnesota cached six radio-collars (four in winter, two in spring-summer) of 202 radio-collared White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) they killed or consumed from 1975 to 2010. A Wolf bedded on top of one collar cached in snow. We found one collar each at a Wolf den and Wolf rendezvous site, 2.5 km and 0.5 km respectively, from each deer's...
Authors
Michael E. Nelson, L. David Mech
Book review: The world of wolves: New perspectives on ecology Book review: The world of wolves: New perspectives on ecology
Wolf populations have proliferated in several areas and so have wolf books. The latest book is a good one. This compendium, The World of Wolves, covers a variety of fast-moving and controversial areas such as canid genetics, effects of wolves on ecosystems, climate change, hunting of wolves by snowmobile and non-lethal methods of minimizing livestock depredation. A great deal of new and
Authors
L. David Mech
Parsing demographic effects of canine parvovirus on a Minnesota wolf population Parsing demographic effects of canine parvovirus on a Minnesota wolf population
We examined 35 years of relationships among wolf (Canis lupus) pup survival, population change and canine parvovirus (CPV) seroprevalence in Northeastern Minnesota to determine when CPV exerted its strongest effects. Using correlation analysis of data from five periods of 7-years each from 1973 through 2007, we learned that the strongest effect of CPV on pup survival (r = -0.73) and on...
Authors
L. David Mech, Sagar M. Goyal
Accuracy of estimating wolf summer territories by daytime locations Accuracy of estimating wolf summer territories by daytime locations
We used locations of 6 wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota from Global Positioning System (GPS) collars to compare day-versus-night locations to estimate territory size and location during summer. We employed both minimum convex polygon (MCP) and fixed kernel (FK) methods. We used two methods to partition GPS locations for day-versus-night home-range comparisons: (1) daytime = 0800–2000 h...
Authors
Dominic J. Demma, L. David Mech
Infectious diseases in Yellowstone’s canid community Infectious diseases in Yellowstone’s canid community
Each summer Yellowstone Wolf Project staff visit den sites to monitor the success of wolf reproduction and pup rearing behavior. For the purposes of wolf monitoring, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is divided into two study areas, the northern range and the interior, each distinguished by their ecological and physiographical differences. The 1,000 square kilometer northern range...
Authors
Emily S. Almberg, Paul C. Cross, L. David Mech, Doug W. Smith, Jennifer W. Sheldon, Robert L. Crabtree
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 405
Rescuing wolves: threat of misinformation Rescuing wolves: threat of misinformation
No abstract available.
Authors
L. David Mech
Is science in danger of sanctifying the wolf? Is science in danger of sanctifying the wolf?
Historically the wolf (Canis lupus) was hated and extirpated from most of the contiguous United States. The federal Endangered Species Act fostered wolf protection and reintroduction which improved the species' image. Wolf populations reached biological recovery in the Northern Rocky Mountains and upper Midwest, and the animal has been delisted from the Endangered Species List in those...
Authors
L. David Mech
Use of real-time PCR to detect canine parvovirus in feces of free-ranging wolves Use of real-time PCR to detect canine parvovirus in feces of free-ranging wolves
Using real-time PCR, we tested 15 wolf (Canis lupus) feces from the Superior National Forest (SNF), Minnesota, USA, and 191 from Yellowstone National Park (YNP), USA, collected during summer and 13 during winter for canine parvovirus (CPV)-2 DNA. We also tested 20 dog feces for CPV-2 DNA. The PCR assay was 100% sensitive and specific with a minimum detection threshold of 104 50% tissue...
Authors
L. David Mech, Emily S. Almberg, Douglas Smith, Sagar Goyal, Randall S. Singer
Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk
Despite the popular view that social predators live in groups because group hunting facilitates prey capture, the apparent tendency for hunting success to peak at small group sizes suggests that the formation of large groups is unrelated to prey capture. Few empirical studies, however, have tested for nonlinear relationships between hunting success and group size, and none have...
Authors
Daniel R. MacNulty, Douglas W. Smith, L. David Mech, John A. Vucetich, Craig Packer
Wolf population dynamics in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains are affected by recruitment and human-caused mortality Wolf population dynamics in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains are affected by recruitment and human-caused mortality
Reliable analyses can help wildlife managers make good decisions, which are particularly critical for controversial decisions such as wolf (Canis lupus) harvest. Creel and Rotella (2010) recently predicted substantial population declines in Montana wolf populations due to harvest, in contrast to predictions made by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP). We replicated their analyses...
Authors
J.A. Gude, M.S. Mitchell, Robin E. Russell, C.A. Sime, E.E. Bangs, L.D. Mech, R.R. Ream
Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk Nonlinear effects of group size on the success of wolves hunting elk
Despite the popular view that social predators live in groups because group hunting facilitates prey capture, the apparent tendency for hunting success to peak at small group sizes suggests that the formation of large groups is unrelated to prey capture. Few empirical studies, however, have tested for nonlinear relationships between hunting success and group size, and none have...
Authors
D.R. MacNulty, D.W. Smith, L. David Mech, J.A. Vucetich, C. Packer
Minnesota wolf ear lengths as possible indicators of taxonomic differences Minnesota wolf ear lengths as possible indicators of taxonomic differences
Genetic findings suggest that 2 types of wolves, Canis lupus (Gray Wolf) and C. lycaon (Eastern Wolf), and/or their hybrids occupy Minnesota (MN), and this study examines adult wolf ear lengths as a possible distinguisher between these two. Photographic evidence suggested that the Eastern Wolf possesses proportionately longer ears than Gray Wolves. Ear lengths from 22 northwestern MN...
Authors
L. David Mech
Wolves, Canis lupus, carry and cache the collars of radio-collared White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, they killed Wolves, Canis lupus, carry and cache the collars of radio-collared White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, they killed
Wolves (Canis lupus) in northeastern Minnesota cached six radio-collars (four in winter, two in spring-summer) of 202 radio-collared White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) they killed or consumed from 1975 to 2010. A Wolf bedded on top of one collar cached in snow. We found one collar each at a Wolf den and Wolf rendezvous site, 2.5 km and 0.5 km respectively, from each deer's...
Authors
Michael E. Nelson, L. David Mech
Book review: The world of wolves: New perspectives on ecology Book review: The world of wolves: New perspectives on ecology
Wolf populations have proliferated in several areas and so have wolf books. The latest book is a good one. This compendium, The World of Wolves, covers a variety of fast-moving and controversial areas such as canid genetics, effects of wolves on ecosystems, climate change, hunting of wolves by snowmobile and non-lethal methods of minimizing livestock depredation. A great deal of new and
Authors
L. David Mech
Parsing demographic effects of canine parvovirus on a Minnesota wolf population Parsing demographic effects of canine parvovirus on a Minnesota wolf population
We examined 35 years of relationships among wolf (Canis lupus) pup survival, population change and canine parvovirus (CPV) seroprevalence in Northeastern Minnesota to determine when CPV exerted its strongest effects. Using correlation analysis of data from five periods of 7-years each from 1973 through 2007, we learned that the strongest effect of CPV on pup survival (r = -0.73) and on...
Authors
L. David Mech, Sagar M. Goyal
Accuracy of estimating wolf summer territories by daytime locations Accuracy of estimating wolf summer territories by daytime locations
We used locations of 6 wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota from Global Positioning System (GPS) collars to compare day-versus-night locations to estimate territory size and location during summer. We employed both minimum convex polygon (MCP) and fixed kernel (FK) methods. We used two methods to partition GPS locations for day-versus-night home-range comparisons: (1) daytime = 0800–2000 h...
Authors
Dominic J. Demma, L. David Mech
Infectious diseases in Yellowstone’s canid community Infectious diseases in Yellowstone’s canid community
Each summer Yellowstone Wolf Project staff visit den sites to monitor the success of wolf reproduction and pup rearing behavior. For the purposes of wolf monitoring, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is divided into two study areas, the northern range and the interior, each distinguished by their ecological and physiographical differences. The 1,000 square kilometer northern range...
Authors
Emily S. Almberg, Paul C. Cross, L. David Mech, Doug W. Smith, Jennifer W. Sheldon, Robert L. Crabtree