Skip to content

Nature

Bold or shy, elk find shooting very selective

by Dave Armstrong 05 Sep 2012
Bold or shy, elk find shooting very selective

Distant elk; Credit: © Simone Ciuti

When bows and arrows or knives and spears were the latest bone, bronze or iron weapon, herd animals had strategies more suited to wolves and other predators than the running ape. To counter the latest military-style rifle, elk (in Europe and Asia, the red deer) would have to steal blueprints from commy spies. Instead their evolutionary progress will now be down, in hunting areas, to the slowest and least conspicuous animals' survival.

The University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the University College, Dublin, are keen to research the elk and its artificial selection by hunters. Rapid evolutionary change is created by humans, resulting in colour and shape change in wild species. Behavioural change is the objective of Simone Ciuti and her fellow researchers of the "landscape of fear."

Only domestic animals have so far been investigated for a very obvious behavioural set of traits. Cervus elephas is harvested, but not from a domestic setting. Totally wild, the animals are sometimes bred for meat (venison), but normally roam free where the prairies or highlands or forests (one of their original habitats) allow. Radio telemetry using collars was employed with 2 year-old males that were long separated from their mothers and females aged 2-19 years.

Ecologically, harvested males moved faster. The speed was greater near gravel roads and open areas and before the onset of the hunting season. The slower movement of the survivors obviously helped them to remain alive. The younger females moved faster and basically followed the same pattern and were harvested for the same reasons as the males.

The probability of being harvested was linked to the males' selection of open areas, faster movement rate or flatter land. Females were also more vulnerable in open areas and with a faster movement rate. The younger females near to a road also had a higher chance of being shot. This means that shy hiders are survivors while bold runners are harvested. As no stags with "points"( the antlers) were used by the shooting humans, the obvious trophy aspect was absent from this study.

elk

Elk; Credit: © Heather Banfield

Personality and temperament among wild creatures is now a subject for research because the bold/shy axis of behavioural response is a trait observed in almost all vertebrates so far studied. The risk taking and novelty situations used in studies correlate strongly with the shooting of elk. The human element creates the "landscape of fear" to which the animal responds with bold or shy mechanisms. As hunting mortality can often be higher than natural mortality from say, wolves, selection is going to take place in an artificial way. Undesirable results could include lack of bold animals for the hunter to find! This is an advantage for the elk, of course.

It is hopeful that wolf and humans select for the same set of behaviours, but the rapid movement is likely to be one that is useful against the wolf, for example. Wildlife management is a relatively new science that needs a supply of data on which to act. The data on elk management now presents something of a dilemma. Will the wolf find it easier to select the new breed of shy elk, or will the two predations balance each other in the selection of the next generations of elk?

At least the elk has been observed with plasticity in its behaviour enough to provide for various future threats. Other species are likely to become endangered when faced with the same double threat.

The full research paper, Human selection of elk behavioural traits in a landscape of fear, is published today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping