In this way we obtained data on a total of 468 wolf-days and found a total kill of 35 to 48 deer ([table 7]). This averages out to a kill rate of one deer per 10 to 14 days per wolf. The figure varied considerably among individuals—1051 had the highest rate of one kill per 6.3 to 7.2 days, and each wolf in 1059's pack had the lowest rate (except for 1053, the scavenger) of one deer per 14.0 to 18.0 days.
It is significant that the pack of five wolves had a lower kill rate per wolf than did single wolves and pairs. This is explainable because the ability of wolves to kill deer during early 1969 was much greater than usual (see Mech et al., [p. 51]). Thus single wolves probably could kill deer just as easily as could packs, but they did not need to share them. This differs markedly from the situation on Isle Royale, where lone wolves usually feed only on moose remains left by packs (Mech 1966a, Jordan et al. 1967).
That lone wolves had more of a food surplus than those in the pack is confirmed by the figures on the average number of days that the various wolves fed on kills ([table 7]). Wolf 1051 spent an average of only 2.2 to 2.4 days feeding at each of his kills, whereas 1059's pack of five spent an average of 5.8 to 7.5 wolf-days at each kill. Further confirmation is found in the fact that even when most wolves were leaving their kills partly uneaten, a pack of 8 to 10 wolves (probably that to which 1057 belonged) was seen completely devouring a kill.
Table 7.—Kill rate of deer by radiotagged wolves and their associates
| Wolf number | Wolves | Dates | Wolf-days of data | Kills | Wolf-days per kill[14] | Wolf-days feeding | Wolf-days feeding per kill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | Number | Mean Number | Number | Mean Number | ||
| 1051 | 1 | Nov. 26 to Apr. 3 | 101 | 14-16 | 6.3-7.2 | 33-40 | 2.2-2.4 |
| 1053[15] | 1 | Dec. 14 to Mar. 27 | 75 | 2-3 | 25.0-37.5 | 9-18 | 4.5-6.0 |
| 1055 | 1-2 | Jan. 9 to Mar. 14 | 61 | 4-9 | 6.7-15.0 | 13-25 | 2.8-3.3 |
| 1057 | 1-13 | Jan. 24 to Feb. 28 | 51 | 5-7 | 7.3-10.2 | 25-33 | 4.7-5.0 |
| 1059 | 5 | Jan. 25 to Mar. 14 | 180 | 10-13 | 14.0-18.0 | 75 | 5.8-7.5 |
| Summary | 22 | Nov. 27 to Apr. 3 | 468 | 35-48 | [16]9.8-13.4 | 145-181 | [17]3.8-4.1 |
| Before Feb. 1 | 142 | 7-9 | [18]15.7-20.3 | 39-56 | 5.1-5.6 | ||
| After Jan. 31 | 326 | 28-39 | 8.4-11.6 | 106-125 | 3.2-3.8 | ||
FOOTNOTES:
[14] Kill rate per wolf.
[15] Figures for this animal are so low because she was basically a scavenger.
[16] Average kill rate per wolf for all radiotagged wolves and their associates, derived by dividing total number of wolf-days by total number of kills.
[17] Average number of days that each wolf spent at each kill, derived by dividing total number of wolf-days spent feeding by the total number of kills.