Estimating the Age of Male Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) Using Baculum Measurements

Morphological characteristics of the bacula of 62 Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) harvested in Wisconsin were related to age estimates generated from cementum annuli analyses. Baculum analysis suggested that 47 of 62 wolves (75.8%) were correctly classified as the appropriate age category (pup, yearling,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Canadian Field-Naturalist
Main Authors: Walleser, Liza R, Crimmins, Shawn M, Roberts, Nathan M
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 2016
Subjects:
Gray Wolf
age determination
baculum
canid
Canis lupus
cementum annuli
Wisconsin
gray wolf
Online Access:https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/1882
https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v130i3.1882
Description
Summary:Morphological characteristics of the bacula of 62 Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) harvested in Wisconsin were related to age estimates generated from cementum annuli analyses. Baculum analysis suggested that 47 of 62 wolves (75.8%) were correctly classified as the appropriate age category (pup, yearling, adult) assessed by cementum analyses; however, this success was limited for yearlings (53.5%) and adults (38.5%). Results could not corroborate future use of this approach for rapid aging of dead wolves. there remains a need for a wolf-aging technique that can be broadly implemented in a timely and cost-effectivemanner, while also preserving the inherent trophy value of an intact skull.

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