Middle-Aged Wolves Retire From the Hunt

Middle-aged and older wolves tend to leave the hunting to their younger counterparts, according to a new study. Wolves usually lose their hunting prowess at age 3, about halfway through their lives. Getty Images

From Discovery:

It takes wolves a year or two to learn how to hunt, but their ferociousness doesn't last long.

According to a new study, most wolves lose their prowess by age 3, just halfway through their lives. After that, they have to rely on younger members of the pack to catch the majority of their meals.

The discovery adds to growing evidence that aging affects animals much like it affects people. The findings might also change the way scientists think about the health of both wolf packs and the elk they prey on.

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