The battle over bison between Montana ranchers and conservationists may be getting most of the headlines, but a more literal battle is occurring along the Montana-Idaho border between cougars and wolves.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks reports an unusually high number of wolves killed by one or more cougars in the area this spring. Wolves and cougars compete and occasionally fight to the death over hunting territory.
Wolf packs typically win territorial battles with cougars, but one or more cougars are apparently picking off lone wolves in the region at an unusually high clip.
In each case, the victorious cougar ate a portion of the wolf and then covered the kill with debris for later feasting.
