Ecological Studies of the Timber Wolf in Northeastern Minnesota Part 9

FOOTNOTES:

[27] _R. L. Downing. Personal correspondence to L. D. Mech, October 2, 1969_.

_Table 4.--Age and s.e.x distribution of deer killed by wolves and hunters in northeastern Minnesota_

-------:-------------------------------:------------------------------- : Wolf-killed deer : Hunter-killed deer Age :---------------------------:---:---------------------------:--- (years): Number of: : : Number of: : :Males Females Unknown Total: % :Males Females Unknown Total: % -------:---------------------------:---:---------------------------:--- Fawns 9 13 2 24 17 54 54 4 112 26 1+ 5 7 1 13 9 63 26 1 90 21 2+ 3 8 5 16 11 42 19 2 63 15 3+ 2 4 2 8 6 47 16 1 64 15 4+ 6 3 4 13 9 32 22 1 55 13 5+ 12 9 -- 21 15 15 12 1 28 6 6+ 9 2 1 12 8 3 -- -- 3 -- 7+ 12 4 -- 16 11 7 4 -- 11 3 8+ 4 2 -- 6 4 5 1 -- 6 1 9+ 4 2 -- 6 4 1 -- -- 1 -- 10+ -- 3 -- 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- 11+ -- 1 -- 1 } -- -- -- -- -- 12+ -- -- -- -- } 4 -- -- -- -- -- 13+ -- 1 -- 1 } -- -- -- -- -- 14+ -- 2 -- 2 } -- -- -- -- --

Total 66 61 15 142 100 269 154 10 433 100 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mandibles from the 142 wolf-killed deer and 259 hunter-killed deer were examined closely for abnormal dent.i.tion (table 5, figs. 8-10) (Mech _et al._ 1970) and pathological conditions (table 6), and the lower limbs of 75 wolf-kills and 126 hunter-kills were also checked for abnormalities and pathology (table 7, fig. 11). Statistical comparison showed that the incidence of each condition was significantly higher in the sample from wolf-killed deer (table 8).

Jaw necrosis found in our specimens was similar to that described by Murie (1944) for Dall sheep and Mech (1966a) for moose. Generally animals with this condition are old, and ours were no exception.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Figure 8.--Deciduous first premolar (arrow), usually not present in deer, was found in specimen M-31._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Figure 9.--A permanent first premolar (arrow) was discovered in M-8._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Figure 10.--An extra set of fourth premolars (arrows) occurred in specimens M-96._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Figure 11.--The jaws and legs of kills were inspected closely for abnormalities. (Photo courtesy of L. D. Frenzel.)_]

_Table 5.--Abnormalities in the mandibular dent.i.tion of deer from the Superior National Forest, Minnesota_

--------:---:-------:--------:-------:-------------------------------- Specimen: : :Cause of:Side of: number :s.e.x:Age[28]: death :jaw[29]: Abnormality --------:---:-------:--------:-------:-------------------------------- _Years_

M-8 F 3+ Wolves Right P_1 present (fig. 9) Left Normal; no P_1 present outside or inside jaw

M-31 F _17 mon._ Wolves Both Deciduous P_1 present (fig. 8) and permanent P_1 present inside left ramus; right side not examined internally

M-45 M _4+_ Wolves Right P_2 rotated 90 Left P_2 absent

M-52 M 4+ Wolves Right P_2 absent Left Normal

M-96 F _2+_ Hunters Right 2 permanent P_4s present; both crooked in orientation (fig. 10) Left P_2 diagonal; P_3 normal; P_4 below gumline, pointed posteriorly and wedged against M_1; appears to have pushed out original P_4 (fig. 10)

M-117 M 5+ Hunters Right Third column of M_3 reduced

M-191 M 4+ Wolves Right Third column of M_3 absent although rudimentary root present Left Third column of M_3 much reduced, peg-like, and almost separate

M-225 -- 4+ Wolves Right P_2 absent Left P_2 situated diagonally

M-234 F 5+ Wolves Right Third column of M_3 reduced

M-254 M 2+ Hunters Right P_2 slightly crooked in orientation Left P_2 slanting posteriorly and crowding P_3

M-272 M 5+ Hunters Right Third column of M_3 reduced, peg-like, and almost separate Left Third column of M_3 peg-like and separated from second column by 4 mm.

M-296 F 5+ Wolves Right Normal Left Extra permanent P_4 crowding original P_4; much like M-96

M-369 M 3+ Hunters Right Permanent P_2 still not emerged but appears to be wedged against root of P_3 --------:---:-------:--------:-------:--------------------------------

FOOTNOTES:

[28] Based on incisor sectioning method of Gilbert (1966) except that _underlined_ figures are based on tooth replacement or wear (Severinghaus 1949).

[29] Where only one side is listed, the other was not available.

_Table 6.--Pathological conditions in the lower jaws of deer killed by wolves or hunters[30]_

--------:---:------:--------:-----------:----------------------------- Specimen: : :Cause of:Approximate: number :s.e.x: Age : death : date of : Condition : : : : death : --------:---:------:--------:-----------:----------------------------- _Years_

M-70 M 6-1/2 Wolves Feb. 1968 Lump in left side of mandible near M_1 and M_2

M-192 M 7-1/2 Wolves Jan. 1969 Large lump in left diastema apparently from healed fracture

M-206 M 8-1/2 Wolves Jan. 1969 Light necrosis around base of teeth

M-218 M 3-1/2 Wolves Feb. 1969 Large lump in left diastema apparently from healed fracture

M-228 F 11-1/2 Wolves Mar. 1969 Heavy necrosis around molars and extending into bone; half of each M_3 destroyed, both roots and crown

M-236 F 14-1/2 Wolves Feb. 1969 Light necrosis around base of teeth

M-402 F 10-1/2 Hunters Nov. 1968 Heavy necrosis and lumps on both sides of mandible --------:---:------:--------:-----------:-----------------------------

FOOTNOTES:

[30] Not including dental abnormalities, which are described in table 5.

The following organs were excised from wolf-killed deer and examined grossly in the field for parasites and abnormalities (fig. 12): lungs (six animals, normal); heart (seven animals, normal); liver (four animals, one small unidentified tapeworm cyst). Twin fetuses were found in each of two adult does examined.

Twelve deer were checked for body fat in one or all of the following areas: back (subcutaneous), kidneys, heart, omenta. Of these animals, seven had large amounts of fat, but five were almost depleted of fat from these stores. These five were all killed in February or March 1969; three were fawns, and two were yearlings that had not yet shed their deciduous premolars.

Of 69 animals examined for femur marrow condition, two had fat-depleted marrow. One was a fawn killed in March 1969 that had not shed its deciduous first incisors, and the other was a 5-1/2-year-old buck killed in February 1966.

A fawn and a yearling that had died in February 1969 from unknown causes also had fat-depleted, marrow. These animals might have been killed by wolves, for wolves had fed on them. However, they could have died from malnutrition and been eaten as carrion.

_Table 7.--Pathological conditions in the lower limbs of deer killed by wolves or hunters_

--------:---:-----:------:-------------------------------------------- : : :Cause : Specimen:s.e.x: Age : of : Condition number : : :death : --------:---:-----:------:-------------------------------------------- _Years_