Beyond ungulates like deer and moose, what other food sources does the Canis lupus diet incorporate when large prey is scarce?

Answer

Smaller animals like rodents and carrion from other kills.

Although the gray wolf's diet centers primarily on large ungulates such as deer, elk, moose, and bison, which provide the bulk of their caloric intake, wolves exhibit significant opportunistic feeding behaviors necessary for survival. When hunting large game proves unsuccessful, or when such prey is simply unavailable in their immediate environment, wolves readily shift their focus to supplementary food sources. This includes smaller mammals like beavers, rabbits, and various rodents. Furthermore, wolves are pragmatic scavengers; carrion—the remains of animals that have perished due to natural causes, injury, or the kills of other predators—forms an important and reliable component of their overall nutritional intake.

Beyond ungulates like deer and moose, what other food sources does the Canis lupus diet incorporate when large prey is scarce?

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