Of course, wolves are opportunists and will sometimes kill healthy animals if safe opportunities arise. Hunting elk and moose is dangerous as one kick can result in a broken leg or other injuries leading to the death of the wolf. Wolves support a wide variety of other animals. Ravens, foxes, coyotes, martins, wolverines, vultures, and even bears and eagles feed on the remains of animals killed by wolves. Raven and wolves appear to have developed a special relationship - ravens scavenge from wolf kills and also serve to alert wolves when they sense danger nearby.
Wolves are also scavengers - eating winter killed prey in addition to hunting their food.
With little alternative, the wolf then turned to the sheep and cattle that had replaced its natural prey. To protect livestock, ranchers and government agencies began a campaign to eliminate the wolf. Wolves were trapped, shot from planes and snowmobiles, and hunted with dogs. Animal carcasses salted with strychnine were left out for wolves to eat. This practice killed millions of wolves and, indiscriminately, also eagles ravens, foxes, bears, and other animals, which also fed on the poisoned carrion.