JACKSON — Research shows wolves in the northern part of Grand Teton National Park have an appetite for moose during the wintertime.
Park and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service researchers documented some 55 moose killed by wolves over the past three winters.
Moose numbers have been declining in Jackson Hole for years.
The moose population is less than one-fifth the number counted 20 years ago and only about one-fourth of the number that wildlife managers would like to see.
Grand Teton biologist Sarah Dewey says wolves typically prefer to prey on elk rather than moose. Moose are bigger, and she says elk are easier for wolves to take down.
Other threats to moose in Grand Teton include parasites, wildfires, getting hit by cars and loss of habitat to development.
Gray wolves were reintroduced to Wyoming in 1996 by federal order. Last year they were removed from the Endangered Species List, and the first regulated wolf hunt the state took place late last year.