A team of land managers at the University of Minnesota, working with a colleague at the University of Manitoba, has learned more about the role wolves play in boreal forest dynamics as they prey on beavers. In their study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group used GPS trackers on wild wolves and cameras placed around several beaver ponds at a forested park in Minnesota to learn more about the impact of beavers and wolves on forest dynamics.

A team of land managers at the University of Minnesota, working with a colleague at the University of Manitoba, has learned more about the role wolves play in boreal forest dynamics as they prey on beavers. In their study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group used GPS trackers on wild wolves and cameras placed around several beaver ponds at a forested park in Minnesota to learn more about the impact of beavers and wolves on forest dynamics.

Prior research has shown that beavers play a major role in forest dynamics because they clear land, dam streams and forage on areas around beaver ponds. Prior research has also suggested that wolves may alter the impact that beavers have on forest dynamics by preying on them when the beavers stray too far from their self-built lodges—giving wolves a role in forest dynamics. In this new effort, the research team took a closer look to determine the impact wolves have on forest dynamics by preying on beavers.