Fig. 3: Distribution of cougar kill rates and biomass acquisition rates by season and prey species/groups.
From: Prey size mediates interference competition and predation dynamics in a large carnivore community
Seasonal variation in cougar (a) kill rates (kills per adult cougar per 30 days) and (b) biomass acquisition rates (kg per adult cougar per day) of different prey species/groups during 2016–2022 in Yellowstone National Park, USA. Each point represents an estimate for a single cougar predation sequence (n = 46) that occurred in the respective season. “Deer” includes predominantly mule deer, but also white-tailed deer. “Other Ungulate” includes pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. “Non-Ungulate” includes yellow-bellied marmot, coyote, red fox, porcupine, beaver, grouse, and cougar.
