Part 14

R. L. Downing. Personal correspondence to L. D. Mech, October 2, 1969.

Table 4.--Age and sex distribution of deer killed by wolves and hunters in northeastern Minnesota

-------:-------------------------------:------------------------------- : Wolf-killed deer : Hunter-killed deer Age :---------------------------:---:---------------------------:--- (years): Number of: : : Number of: : :Males Females Unknown Total: % :Males Females Unknown Total: % -------:---------------------------:---:---------------------------:--- Fawns 9 13 2 24 17 54 54 4 112 26 1+ 5 7 1 13 9 63 26 1 90 21 2+ 3 8 5 16 11 42 19 2 63 15 3+ 2 4 2 8 6 47 16 1 64 15 4+ 6 3 4 13 9 32 22 1 55 13 5+ 12 9 -- 21 15 15 12 1 28 6 6+ 9 2 1 12 8 3 -- -- 3 -- 7+ 12 4 -- 16 11 7 4 -- 11 3 8+ 4 2 -- 6 4 5 1 -- 6 1 9+ 4 2 -- 6 4 1 -- -- 1 -- 10+ -- 3 -- 3 2 -- -- -- -- -- 11+ -- 1 -- 1 } -- -- -- -- -- 12+ -- -- -- -- } 4 -- -- -- -- -- 13+ -- 1 -- 1 } -- -- -- -- -- 14+ -- 2 -- 2 } -- -- -- -- --

Total 66 61 15 142 100 269 154 10 433 100 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mandibles from the 142 wolf-killed deer and 259 hunter-killed deer were examined closely for abnormal dentition (table 5, figs. 8-10) (Mech et al. 1970) and pathological conditions (table 6), and the lower limbs of 75 wolf-kills and 126 hunter-kills were also checked for abnormalities and pathology (table 7, fig. 11). Statistical comparison showed that the incidence of each condition was significantly higher in the sample from wolf-killed deer (table 8).

Jaw necrosis found in our specimens was similar to that described by Murie (1944) for Dall sheep and Mech (1966a) for moose. Generally animals with this condition are old, and ours were no exception.

Table 5.--Abnormalities in the mandibular dentition of deer from the Superior National Forest, Minnesota

--------:---:-------:--------:-------:-------------------------------- Specimen: : :Cause of:Side of: number :Sex:Age: death :jaw: Abnormality --------:---:-------:--------:-------:-------------------------------- Years

M-8 F 3+ Wolves Right P1 present (fig. 9) Left Normal; no P1 present outside or inside jaw

M-31 F 17 mon. Wolves Both Deciduous P1 present (fig. 8) and permanent P1 present inside left ramus; right side not examined internally

M-45 M 4+ Wolves Right P2 rotated 90 deg. Left P2 absent

M-52 M 4+ Wolves Right P_2 absent Left Normal

M-96 F 2+ Hunters Right 2 permanent P4s present; both crooked in orientation (fig. 10) Left P2 diagonal; P3 normal; P4 below gumline, pointed posteriorly and wedged against M1; appears to have pushed out original P4 (fig. 10)

M-117 M 5+ Hunters Right Third column of M_3 reduced

M-191 M 4+ Wolves Right Third column of M3 absent although rudimentary root present Left Third column of M3 much reduced, peg-like, and almost separate

M-225 -- 4+ Wolves Right P2 absent Left P2 situated diagonally

M-234 F 5+ Wolves Right Third column of M_3 reduced

M-254 M 2+ Hunters Right P2 slightly crooked in orientation Left P2 slanting posteriorly and crowding P_3

M-272 M 5+ Hunters Right Third column of M3 reduced, peg-like, and almost separate Left Third column of M3 peg-like and separated from second column by 4 mm.

M-296 F 5+ Wolves Right Normal Left Extra permanent P4 crowding original P4; much like M-96

M-369 M 3+ Hunters Right Permanent P2 still not emerged but appears to be wedged against root of P3 --------:---:-------:--------:-------:--------------------------------

FOOTNOTES:

Based on incisor sectioning method of Gilbert (1966) except that underlined figures are based on tooth replacement or wear (Severinghaus 1949).

Where only one side is listed, the other was not available.

Table 6.--Pathological conditions in the lower jaws of deer killed by wolves or hunters

--------:---:------:--------:-----------:----------------------------- Specimen: : :Cause of:Approximate: number :Sex: Age : death : date of : Condition : : : : death : --------:---:------:--------:-----------:----------------------------- Years

M-70 M 6-1/2 Wolves Feb. 1968 Lump in left side of mandible near M1 and M2

M-192 M 7-1/2 Wolves Jan. 1969 Large lump in left diastema apparently from healed fracture