Wolf, Canis lupus, predation and maternal defensive behavior in Mountain Goats, Oreamnos americanus

Abstract

Four attacks by single Wolves on Mountain Goats were observed at Caw Ridge, Alberta, during July and August 1995. One Wolf killed a yearling female and an adult female successfully defended her kid against an adult Wolf. In 206 agonistic encounters between kids and older Goats, mothers defended their kids only five times. These results do not support the hypothesis that maternal defense against conspecifics is common in Mountain Goats but demonstrate that females can defend kids against predators.