Back in August I did a post about Eagles. This post was a follow up to an article in our Hunting Illustrated Magazine by Michael Burrell talking about the potential for Eagles to be predators to the vulnerable deer. I recommend you check it out and read the comments of some great first-hand experiences about how powerful these Eagles really are.
Here is a video clip that might showcase a little bit about the predator abilities of Eagles and Falcons.
Many of us know that finding an elk that has lived in the wild for 12 years is quite unique. I remember back in 2003 when Brian Gilson shot the “then” Utah state record typical, his bull was aged at 12 years old. Some of the big bulls that are being taken down recently are big mature elk over the 10 year mark. But when Wyoming elk hunter Terry Fass shot a cow elk up the West Fork of the Smith’s Fork he had no idea the elk was tagged during a research project 19 years ago. Wyoming Game and Fish Department records indicate the elk was captured April 15, 1987 on the Bald Range and a metal tag placed in her ear. The cow elk was already an adult at that time.
Depending on their limiting factors (disease, predators, weather, loss of habitat, etc.) elk may live more than 20 years in captivity and average 10 to 13 years in the wild.
Green River Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco sheds a more philosophical light on the the cow elks journey.
“Wherever this elk was tagged, she managed to evade death for twenty-something years,” DeCecco said. “Rarely do we see elk reach 20 years of age in the wild. I’d like to think about the genetic and behavioral contributions this cow elk made to the health of the Uinta Elk Herd. I know elk are adapted for their habitats, but this a feat.”
“We don’t always get to see results of our wildlife research projects. This is an example where we were able to use tools and technology available for wildlife management twenty years ago and know that it works.”
Link: WY G&F