I've got a couple theories...
First one is that deer tend to be more dispersed in small groups, singles, doe and two fawns, etc. Not really a strong herd animal. I would think that would make them a lot less vulnerable, being so spread out over any given area.
Elk, on the other hand, will almost always be grouped up in herds, sometimes in large herds. Easy for wolves to find...and shadow them until they pick one off.
Further, as far as calf mortality. Elk tend to habitually use the same areas year after year for fawning, sometimes many cows use the same general area. As per the Lolo/Selway studies in Idaho, that characteristic of elk calving routines...made some easy pickings for black bears. The bears, like the elk, were habituated to seek out and kill large numbers of calves in pretty small areas.
Deer...good luck if you're a predator. Deer are dispersed over a much larger geographic area when it comes to having their fawns. Plus, deer have a high number of twin fawns to boot.
According to various studies, wolves also kill the living shit out of coyotes. Not sure how much time anyone has spent observing coyotes, but a couple key things. One is that they occupy a much smaller range than wolves, and they, like deer, are spread out over a large area. Secondly, coyotes dont miss much...as in, they get good at finding fawns.
I believe that as far as fawn survival is concerned, I'd rather be dealing with ONE pack of wolves occupying any given area than say 40-50 coyotes. Only so many fawns are going to be found by a pack of wolves...when 40-50+ coyotes, out on their own or in small groups, are in the same area...they'll stumble onto way more fawns, IMO.
I think theres going to be a lot to learn with wolves, there will be things happening that benefit other species...I think mule deer may be one of them. I also think with less coyotes around, we'll also see more mid-small sized predators like fishers, marten, and maybe even lynx. Partly because coyotes kill those smaller predators, and partly because they compete for the same prey species.
Its possible that small game animals, and perhaps even game birds like grouse will become more prolific with less pressure from coyotes.
Its going to be interesting...
Are they comparing fawns/yearlings of both being killed? Is their assertion that it's easier for wolves to take down baby elk over baby deer? Or full grown elk? Elk are certainly much bigger than muleys, but I'd think a pack could take down does much easier than elk. Just curious for you guys with more insight here...
