The lives of Yellowstone wolves are marred by risk. Between poaching and surviving the rugged terrain of Yellowstone National Park, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) walks the delicate line between life and death.
And a recent study published in Communications Biology indicates that a parasite could be putting wolves' lives at more risk — but not in the way you may think. According to the study, wolves infected with the parasite are 46 times more likely to become pack leaders versus uninfected wolves.
Researchers from the University of Montana and the Yellowstone Center for Resources have found that wolves infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii tend to have higher risk-taking behaviors.
The parasite causes toxoplasmosis, a disease that can infect almost all warm-blooded animals — mostly feline species ranging from domestic house cats to big cats such as cougars. While it may not have overall adverse effects on fit and ...
