Thomas Gable

Hi Leslie, these kill sites are one-time events as wolves probably don't have much choice where they end up killing a beaver - they take what they can get! However, we did find areas were wolves killed two beaver from the same lodge so the kill sites can be pretty close together but they are in fact separate events. Also, understanding the sex of beavers killed would be really cool and not beyond the scope of the study. However, determining the sex of beavers is impossible from the little bits of the beaver that are left at these kill sites. If the whole beaver was there we could sex it but the wolves would never let that happen! Also, sexing beavers can be very challenging even if you have the entire beaver there. There are two main ways to sex beavers: 1. Feel for the baculum (essentially the penis bone). In beavers this can be really pronounced or really hidden. Usually this involves rolling the fur in the pelvic region through your fingers until you feel this small "cheeto" like bone. 2. The other way people sex beavers is by putting pressure on the beavers anal glands which forces out a secretion. Males and female secretions have different colors. This method though seems to be a bit more challenging as you must get a secretion so in the park when we are tagging beavers we determine the sex by method #1. Sadly, we have yet to find a beaver in tact enough at a kill site to determine if it was a male or female. Great questions though Leslie, and thanks again for you generous contributions!

We would love to come do a guest talk at Animal Behavior. The only issue will be the timing of everything! Austin and I will be working here until ice-up which could be early to late November. I will definitely be back during the Thanksgiving time and then likely early December. When does Hope's semester end? If we can make it work, we would both enjoy doing that and would love to grab dinner with the both of you as well! Hope all is well! Tom

Yep absolutely! Please feel free to sent me an email (thomasd.gable@gmail.com) if you want anymore info or have any questions! Thanks again for the support Dana and please pass along my thanks to everyone at Wolf Park for their support! I appreciate it! Hope all is well! Tom

Thanks so much Dee! I really appreciate it!

Thanks much Chuck! Hope to see you as well!

Thanks so much! I hope to make it back as well! Thanks again!

Haha yes indeed James! That was a long time ago! Thanks so much for your donation!

I would love to do that Barbara! Wolf park is always a wonderful place to visit!!

That would be fantastic! Thanks again!

Thanks a ton for your contribution Sara!

Thanks much Kyle! I appreciate you contribution!

Sherly, thanks very much for your contribution! It will be put to good use!