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Home / Equine Research Bank / Ecol Evol / Where Dinner Roams: The Role of Feral Horses as a Resource S...
Ecology and evolution2026; 16(2); e73089; doi: 10.1002/ece3.73089

Where Dinner Roams: The Role of Feral Horses as a Resource Subsidy for Wolves and Cougars in West-Central British Columbia.

Abstract: Feral horses () have established large populations in west-central British Columbia (BC), Canada, where they overlap with native ungulates, including a declining woodland caribou () herd. In addition, feral horses co-occur with large carnivore species including wolf () and cougar (). Feral horses may act as a resource subsidy for predators, potentially altering predator-prey dynamics, yet empirical observations of predator interactions with feral horses are scarce in Canada. Between 2019 and 2025, we documented 21 instances of wolf predation or scavenging of feral horses, including one direct observation of wolves actively hunting feral horses. We also documented 58 instances of confirmed feral horse predation by GPS-collared cougars. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first published observations of wolves hunting feral horses, and the first records of cougar predation of feral horses in British Columbia. Our findings suggest that feral horses may increase food availability for these two large carnivore species, potentially facilitating elevated predation pressure on native ungulate populations via apparent competition. These novel interactions underscore the complex and far-reaching ecological consequences of feral species. Further, they highlight the importance of incorporating non-native prey subsidies into predator-prey management frameworks.
© 2026 His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia. Ecology and Evolution published by British Ecological Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
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Publication Date: 2026-02-10 PubMed ID: 41684831PubMed Central: PMC12891430DOI: 10.1002/ece3.73089Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This research investigates how feral horses in west-central British Columbia serve as an additional food resource for local predators such as wolves and cougars.
  • The study explores how the presence of feral horses may affect predator-prey relationships, especially concerning native ungulates like woodland caribou.

Background and Context

  • Feral horses have established large populations in west-central British Columbia, overlapping with native ungulates, including a threatened woodland caribou herd.
  • Large carnivores such as wolves (Canis lupus) and cougars (Puma concolor) share this habitat with feral horses and native prey species.
  • Feral horses, being non-native, may act as a “resource subsidy,” meaning they provide an additional food source for predators that could alter existing ecological dynamics.

Research Objectives

  • Document direct and indirect interactions between wolves and cougars with feral horses in the region.
  • Understand the potential impact of feral horses as a food subsidy on predator behavior and the predation pressure exerted on native ungulates, such as woodland caribou.
  • Provide empirical observations since data on predator interactions with feral horses in Canada have been sparse.

Methodology

  • Data collection took place between 2019 and 2025 in west-central British Columbia.
  • Instances of predation or scavenging events involving wolves and feral horses were recorded, totaling 21 documented cases.
  • One of these cases included a direct observation of wolves actively hunting feral horses, a notable first for published research in Canada.
  • Cougar interactions involved 58 confirmed predation events on feral horses, documented via GPS-collared individuals to provide accurate predation records.
  • This evidence represents the first documented observations of cougar predation on feral horses in British Columbia.

Key Findings

  • Wolves and cougars are utilizing feral horses as a food source, indicating that these horses serve as an important supplementary prey.
  • The presence of feral horses may increase food availability for these large carnivores beyond native prey populations.
  • This increased resource availability has the potential to elevate predation pressure on native ungulate species, such as the woodland caribou, through a process known as apparent competition.
  • Apparent competition occurs when an increase in one prey species leads to an increase in predator populations or predation rates, negatively affecting other prey species.

Ecological and Management Implications

  • The study highlights the complex ecological consequences of non-native species introduction and establishment, particularly how feral horses influence predator-prey dynamics.
  • Feral horses as a prey subsidy could undermine conservation efforts aimed at native species like the woodland caribou due to increased predator pressures.
  • Findings emphasize the need for wildlife management frameworks to account for the presence of non-native prey and their effects on predator populations and behavior.
  • It suggests incorporating these interactions into conservation planning to mitigate unintended consequences on native ungulate populations.

Novel Contributions

  • First published evidence of wolves hunting feral horses in Canada.
  • First documented records of cougar predation on feral horses in British Columbia.
  • New insights into the role of introduced species as ecological subsidies altering food webs and predator-prey relationships.
  • Provides empirical data for developing more informed wildlife and ecosystem management policies in regions with feral horse populations.

Cite This Article

APA
White SC, Thomas J, Shores C, Zimmerman K. (2026). Where Dinner Roams: The Role of Feral Horses as a Resource Subsidy for Wolves and Cougars in West-Central British Columbia. Ecol Evol, 16(2), e73089. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73089

Publication

Ecology and evolution
ISSN: 2045-7758
NlmUniqueID: 101566408
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
Pages: e73089
PII: e73089

Researcher Affiliations

White, Shane C
  • British Columbia Ministry of Water Land and Resource Stewardship Williams Lake British Columbia Canada.
Thomas, Julie
  • Department of Ecosystem Science and Management University of Northern British Columbia Prince George British Columbia Canada.
Shores, Caroyln
  • British Columbia Ministry of Water Land and Resource Stewardship Williams Lake British Columbia Canada.
Zimmerman, Kathi
  • British Columbia Ministry of Water Land and Resource Stewardship British Columbia Canada.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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