Patterns of neonatal mortality of elk in northwest Wyoming

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
During May and June of 1990–1992, 164 newborn elk (Cervus elaphus) of the Jackson elk herd in northwest Wyoming were captured, weighed, aged, and fitted with expandable radio collars. Calves were subsequently monitored twice daily to determine locations and causes of mortality. All neonatal mortality had occurred by 15 July and totaled 15%, 68% of which resulted from predation by black bears (Ursus americanus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Mortality of individual elk calves was male-biased but unrelated to birth mass. Early-born calves suffered lower mortality from causes other than predation than late-born calves. However, predation was greater upon early-born calves. Mortality rate of neonatal elk and recruitment rates, measured in early August, were not spatially density-dependent.