March 25, 2016
A pack of wolves in Wyoming killed an astounding 19 elk and then abandoned all of the bodies as part of a rarely seen hunting technique by the creatures.
The slew of slain elk were discovered by police earlier this week and an investigation confirmed they were killed by wolves.
Fortunately the incident was not supernatural in nature and is actually something that experts have occasionally seen in the past.
"This is a rare event. A lot of people call it surplus killing," Wyoming Game and Fish Department official John Lund explained to County 10.
In such instances, wolves or other predators kill more prey than they can eat and either hide the remaining food or simply abandon it.
There are various theories as to what motivates surplus killings, including the desire to accumulate a lot of food in one hunt as well as providing practice for young animals.
This particular surplus killing is believe to be the work of one wily group of nine wolves that officials dubbed 'The Rim Pack.'
Since the land is governed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming authorities have their hands tied when it comes to policing the Rim Pack.
With that in mind, let's just hope that their bizarre behavior isn't the first of many surplus killings, because they will definitely be coming for people once they run out of elk.
Source: County 10
A pack of wolves in Wyoming killed an astounding 19 elk and then abandoned all of the bodies as part of a rarely seen hunting technique by the creatures.
Wyoming wolves kill 19 elk in suspected "surplus killing" - https://t.co/i6JImt66BW pic.twitter.com/YDVi6ZCl9z
— KTVQ - Q2 News (@KTVQ) March 25, 2016
The slew of slain elk were discovered by police earlier this week and an investigation confirmed they were killed by wolves.
Fortunately the incident was not supernatural in nature and is actually something that experts have occasionally seen in the past.
"This is a rare event. A lot of people call it surplus killing," Wyoming Game and Fish Department official John Lund explained to County 10.
In such instances, wolves or other predators kill more prey than they can eat and either hide the remaining food or simply abandon it.
There are various theories as to what motivates surplus killings, including the desire to accumulate a lot of food in one hunt as well as providing practice for young animals.
This particular surplus killing is believe to be the work of one wily group of nine wolves that officials dubbed 'The Rim Pack.'
Since the land is governed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming authorities have their hands tied when it comes to policing the Rim Pack.
With that in mind, let's just hope that their bizarre behavior isn't the first of many surplus killings, because they will definitely be coming for people once they run out of elk.
Source: County 10