Cat and Dog Blog

Trent Consultants News: Although most wolves in Yellowstone National Park live to be nearly six years old, their ability to kill prey peaks when they are two to three, according to a study led by Dan MacNulty and recently published online by Ecology Letters.

The study will appear in the journal’s December print issue.

The finding challenges a long-held belief that wolves are successful predators for their entire adult lives. It now appears that like human athletes, they are only at the top of their game for about 25 percent of that time. It also shows that physiology can limit predation.

“Wolves are not perfect predators,” says MacNulty, a postdoctoral researcher in the College of Biological Sciences’ Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. “They lack physical characteristics to kill prey swiftly, so they rely on athletic ability and endurance, which diminishes with age. They’re like 100-meter sprinters. They need to be in top condition to perform.”

By comparison, mountain lions, with their short snouts, powerful muscles and retractable claws, are designed to kill, MacNulty says. Not surprisingly, they live and hunt alone.

In Yellowstone, wolves, who hunt in packs, depend on elk for survival. The finding is timely because the park’s elk population is shrinking and wolves are being blamed. Wolves were hunted out of the area in the 1930s and re-introduced in 1995. But the study shows there isn’t a strong correlation between the number of wolves in the park and the number of elk killed.

MacNulty says that number fluctuates based on the age structure of the wolf population at any given time. The higher the proportion of wolves over age three, the lower the rate at which they kill elk. For every 10 percent rise in the proportion of wolves older than three, the kill rate declined 10 to 15 percent. He notes that the drop in the elk population is also attributable to drought and to Grizzly Bears.

“Wolves are not the sole factor limiting Yellowstone’s elk population,” MacNulty says.

When older wolves can no longer hunt successfully, younger wolves share their kill with them, in what MacNulty describes as a lupine version of Social Security. While a high ratio of old-to-young wolves may benefit elk, it could strain the wolf population because there aren’t enough workers to support retirees.

Montana legalized hunting wolves after they were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Although hunting is prohibited in the park, packs wander beyond it boundaries and radio-marked wolves have been killed. MacNulty says hunting won’t put the species at risk, but it actually skews the population towards younger wolves, which could mean more deaths, not fewer, for the elk.

MacNulty became a field biologist at Yellowstone after graduating from the University of Colorado in 1995, the year wolves were reintroduced, and focused his doctoral studies on their predatory behavior. He has continued tracking Yellowstone’s wolves as a University of Minnesota postdoctoral researcher for Craig Packer, the world’s foremost authority on lions.

MacNulty’s next step is to create mathematical models to study the long-term effects of fluctuations in the age structure of Yellowstone’s wolf population on the elk population. His collaborators include Douglas Smith (Yellowstone Center for Resources); John Vucetich, Michigan Technological University) David Mech (US Geological Survey); Daniel Stahler (Yellowstone Center for Resources) and Craig Packer (University of Minnesota).

Adapted from materials provided by University of Minnesota.

Trent Consultants Dog Care and Training is all about helping pet owners enhance their relationships with their pets. Our professional pet-care services includes boarding, grooming, training, now available in Korea. When you’re at work, your dog can be playing and getting the attention he needs at Trent Consultants. Dogs that come for day care have opportunities to play throughout the day in one of our three fenced outdoor play areas with our doggie playgroups. You can visit us at www.trentconsultant.com. Email us info@trentconsultant.com.

About the Author:

Trent Consultants Dog Care and Training is all about helping pet owners enhance their relationships with their pets. Our professional pet-care services includes boarding, grooming, training, now available in Korea. When you’re at work, your dog can be playing and getting the attention he needs at Trent Consultants. Dogs that come for day care have opportunities to play throughout the day in one of our three fenced outdoor play areas with our doggie playgroups. You can visit us at www.trentconsultant.com. Email us info@trentconsultant.com.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Trent Consultants News Wolves Lose Their Predatory Edge In Mid-life, Study Shows

Hmong Gun Dog Competition

Cats are simply adorable. They are affectionate and cute, and yes, they enjoy receiving so much attention. That's why sometimes, cats develop annoying and destructive behaviors several and know how to deal with behavior problems of cats.

Cats are animals, and as such has no reason to tell and distinguish right of evil. But you, the cat owner knows what is good and bad, and what is their responsibility to help your cat act accordingly. It is necessary to address the problems behavior of cats.

Behavioral problems in cats are the usual problems cat owners encounter from their cats. Some owners really feel very upset by some of the behavioral problems your cat, so cat just hire instructors for long-term solutions. Attitude problems are very common in cats.

If you have a cat, is not enough to shower your pet with the utmost attention and care. It is your responsibility to instill in the cat righteous attitudes especially when there are other people living at home. Being adorable and cute are not enough for the cat to stay away from any offense that does.

Tips deal with behavior problems of cats

Here are some tips to help control unwanted behavior problems of cats. Please note that cats also have to act very well especially when there are others in the house or if there are people:

• Discipline your cat. This is one way to deal with behavior problems of cats. You can teach the animal on the right and wrong behavior. For example, if you see your cat do something nice, Pat gently on the head. Otherwise, press your palm on the face of the cat. This would signal that what is simply not acceptable.
• Do not surprise your cat. Cats hate surprises to avoid behavior problems of cats avoid surprises. Do not disturb a cat sleeping or suddenly take away food from a cat eating. Doing so could cause the cat and make it really mad to attack you or anyone.
• Do not ever hit a cat every time does bad things. This is not a good way to deal with behavior problems of cats. The blows, as in children, is not very effective in making cats realize what's done is wrong. Do not ever teach your cat to develop fear of you.
• Make specific cat misbehavior impossible to perform. This is another good way to deal with behavior problems of cats. For example, if the cat wants to steel food containers, keep containers tightly closed and sealed. Also make objects and figures of light in the house beyond the reach of cats, or place in a hood.
• By Littering and disposal of waste behavior problems of cats, you could invest in cat litter boxes. Cat litter boxes are ideal for training the cat to urinate or pass stool in a responsible manner.
• Take your cat to the vet regularly. Thus, could immediately tell if there is a physiological problem in cats. Behavior problems of cats may also be due to pain. Usually, when cats get sick, but they also tend to misbehave.
• Cats are possessive. They want your undivided attention. If other pets in the house, the cat could sense that they are not faithful. To remedy this situation, do not let the cat go to the care and feeding other pets.
• Use reward and punishment to deal with behavior problems of cats. To make the cat also behave properly, you can also use the system reward. For every good deed you see in the cat, the reward for giving her special cat snack. When the cat does not act badly, punishing him for not giving their snack cat, although the cat must demonstrate that there is cat snack that is supposed to be given to it.

If you have followed the suggestions above and found success will not lose hope, you can still tame your cat and you can have a much more enjoyable life with your cat if you only learn a few secrets about behavior cat.

Did you know that can change the behavior of your cat with proven techniques that will give you immediate results? Discover how to end behavior problems of cats visit All About Pets

About the Author:

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including How to Deal with the Behavior Problems of Cats. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How to Deal With the Behavior Problems of Cats

Shape Your Body Workout [VHS] $6.76 At a time when we know so much about choosing safe, effective exercises, reissuing Cindy Crawford’s 1992 best-selling disaster, Shape Your Body, is inexcusable. Swimsuit-clad Cindy puts herself through flings and gyrations that show off her body but aren’t any good for anyone else’s. She presents one after another of the exercises that fitness professionals threw out of their routines two dec…

PetZoom Pet Park Indoor Pet Potty The PetZoom Pet Park is the unique solution for pet accident-free living. Perfect for when you’re late coming home to let the dog out, or unable to let your pet outside due to bad weather. Ideal as a training tool for your puppy, it’s also great in assisting an older dog that might be unable to go to the bathroom outside. Pet Park is made of a synthetic grass material that looks and feels real. It…