Editing Whooping crane (section)

==Predators==
[[File:Grus americana -Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada -head-8a (1).jpg|upright|right|thumb|At [[Calgary Zoo]], Alberta]]
Their many potential nest and brood predators include the [[American black bear]], [[wolverine]], [[gray wolf]], [[cougar]], [[red fox]], [[Canada lynx]], [[bald eagle]], and [[common raven]]. [[Golden eagle]]s have killed some young whooping cranes and fledglings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/153/articles/behavior|title=Whooping Crane - - Birds of North America Online|website=bna.birds.cornell.edu}}</ref> Due to their large size, adult birds in the wild have few predators.<ref name= Johnsgard/><ref>Red River Chloride Control Project, Supplement I to the FEIS: Environmental Impact Statement, United States. Army. Corps of Engineers,1995</ref> However, [[American alligator]]s have taken a few whooping cranes in Florida, and the [[bobcat]] has killed many captive-raised whooping cranes in Florida and Texas.<ref name="bna.birds.cornell.edu" /><ref name="whoopers.usgs.gov">{{Cite web |url=http://whoopers.usgs.gov/report4.htm |title=USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Whooping Crane Report |access-date=2011-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005052214/http://whoopers.usgs.gov/report4.htm |archive-date=2011-10-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Florida, bobcats have caused the great majority of natural mortalities among whooping cranes, including several ambushed adults and the first chick documented to be born in the wild in 60 years.<ref name="whoopers.usgs.gov" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/media/2001/nr-12-18-01.html |title=WCEP: Whooping Crane Killed by Bobcat |access-date=2011-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005052259/http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/media/2001/nr-12-18-01.html |archive-date=2011-10-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/media/2002/nr-1-23-02.html |title=WCEP: Second Whooping Crane Killed by Bobcat |access-date=2011-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005052334/http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/media/2002/nr-1-23-02.html |archive-date=2011-10-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/02/25/bobcats-a-suspect-after-4-whooping-cranes-killed/|title=Bobcat's A Suspect After 4 Whooping Cranes Killed|website=orlandosentinel.com|date=25 February 1993 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/12/20/whooping-crane-flock-loses-2nd-member/ | work=Chicago Tribune | first=Jeff | last=Long | title=Whooping crane flock loses 2nd member | date=2001-12-20}}</ref> Adult cranes can usually deter or avoid attacks by medium-sized predators such as [[coyote]]s when aware of a predator's presence, but the captive-raised cranes haven't learned to roost in deep water, which makes them vulnerable to ambush.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coyote: How does a whooping crane handle it?|url=https://journeynorth.org/tm/crane/jr/photo/Coyote_2.html|publisher=Aransas National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref><ref name=bobcat>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/07/16/bobcats-thin-flock-of-endangered-whooping-cranes/|title=Bobcats Thin Flock Of Endangered Whooping Cranes|website=orlandosentinel.com|date=16 July 1993 }}</ref> As they are less experienced, juvenile cranes may be notably more vulnerable to ambushes by bobcats.<ref>Kreger, M. D., Hatfield, J. S., Estevez, I., Gee, G. F., & Clugston, D. A. (2006). ''Behavioral profiles of the captive juvenile whooping crane as an indicator of post‐release survival''. Zoo Biology: Published in affiliation with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, 25(1), 11–24.</ref> Patuxent Wildlife Research Center scientists believe that this is due to an overpopulation of bobcats caused by the absence or decrease in larger predators (the endangered [[Florida panther]] and the extirpated [[red wolf]]) that formerly preyed on bobcats.<ref name="whoopers.usgs.gov" /> At least 12 bobcats have been trapped and relocated in an attempt to save the cranes.<ref name=bobcat/>