The elk concentrating during the winter where lions aren't as easily able to kill them makes sense. Also why you found a disproportionate number of deer kills that time of year, and that makes sense as well.
Bet you didn't run lions much in June-early fall...to see what they were killing that time of year. The bitterroot study found lions were responsible for the highest amount of predation on elk calves, many times higher than wolves...and I would venture a guess that probably is the case in a lot of other areas as well.
I also agree that a lion wont always kill once a week...but sometimes they kill more often than once a week as well. Its called an average for a reason...all the research I've found is saying, on average, one ungulate a week.
Check this study...one male lion killed 18 moose in less than a year. Probably pretty rare, but impressive.
http://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/ferocious-appetites-study-finds-mountain-lions-may-be-eating-more/article_d9cf046b-2c47-539f-a267-972e72e570b6.html
Bet you didn't run lions much in June-early fall...to see what they were killing that time of year. The bitterroot study found lions were responsible for the highest amount of predation on elk calves, many times higher than wolves...and I would venture a guess that probably is the case in a lot of other areas as well.
I also agree that a lion wont always kill once a week...but sometimes they kill more often than once a week as well. Its called an average for a reason...all the research I've found is saying, on average, one ungulate a week.
Check this study...one male lion killed 18 moose in less than a year. Probably pretty rare, but impressive.
http://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/ferocious-appetites-study-finds-mountain-lions-may-be-eating-more/article_d9cf046b-2c47-539f-a267-972e72e570b6.html
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