These rare kills in Washington State have biologists searching for answers. “Everyone always assumes wolves have the upper hand,” says one scientist. “But that’s not always the case.”
archive link: https://archive.is/JCvom
Cougars are ambushing and killing wolves—and no one knows why
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/cougars-killing-wolves-washington
5 Comments
AttackBunny@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 3y
I’m going to take a wild stab in the dark and guess human encroachment causing them to have to branch out on food sources.
livus@kbin.social · 5 pts · 3y
They hungry.
Seriously though some predators do sometimes preemptively kill rival species as part of resource competition.
Its likely habitat loss and ecological collapse means it's no longer big enough for the both of them. That could explain why it's in specific areas.
Pagpag@kbin.social · 3 pts · 3y
Cats are one of the few mammals that kill for sport aside from humans. I’m sure it’s something aside from that and we’re the root cause, but it’s something to think about.
_haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 3y
To eat I would presume? They're pretty territorial too though
WagesOf@artemis.camp · 1 pts · 3y
They're in a dark alliance with the killer whales!