When thinking about the parameters of a typical wolf diet, a common conjuring of likely candidates resembles common prey species such as wild ungulates and ranched livestock. Perhaps the occasional hare or small rodent.

Many studies focusing on the dietary trends of wolves across North America do, in fact, point out that ungulates are a staple. Multiple studies have referenced moose (Alces alces) as making up over 80% of a wolf’s diet. White-tailed deer (the most common prey in Minnesota), elk, caribou, and domestic livestock tend to also be popular and common fare - polarizing the debate of both wolf management and reintroduction in many parts of America.

However, as the Voyageurs Wolf Project of Minnesota highlights in a recent social media post, skilled predators like wolves can sometimes leave us all surprised with what they fancy for a meal.