Mountain sheep and coyotes: Patterns of predator evasion in a mountain ungulate

I used retrospective analyses to investigate relationships among terrain ty pe, reactions of prey, and age and sex of prey and outcomes of encounters b etween mountain sheep (Ovis canadensis) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Adult females fled from coyotes more often when in open terrain and young always fled regardless of type of terrain. Young were less likely to survive encou nters with coyotes than were adults, and no adult females were killed by co yotes. When types of terrain were: pooled, females were more apt to flee th an were males, but no difference existed in proportion of females and young that fled. When terrain type and sex of adults were pooled, no difference in survival existed between adults that fled and those that did not. When c oyotes were encountered in open terrain, female mountain sheep fled more fr equently than did female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Ungulates less de pendent on terrain for predator evasion than are mountain sheep may employ a more plastic strategy than artiodactyls inhabiting precipitous terrain.