“Personalities matter,” Dr. Smith said, noting that science doesn’t have a good way to assess the effect. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyThere is some evidence that the increase in hunting could alter this research. When the alpha female in the Lamar Canyon pack left Yellowstone in 2012 and was shot, the pack split into two and the alpha male left because the new alpha female was his daughter. Because only the alpha female in a group reproduces, “that means the pack won’t have pups this year,” he said. Dr. Smith said a hunter who hates wolves sought the 11-year-old female out as a prize trophy.

Source: New York Times May 01, 2017 18:33 UTC