Yellowstone wolves may kill up to 2,156 elk in the park each year and as many as 11,600 in the Greater Yellowstone region, according to figures derived from 20 years of wolf study in the park.

In Yellowstone National Park, the number of elk "killed" is a figure that combines natural predation, environmental factors, and limited human management. While hunting is strictly prohibited inside the park boundaries, elk that migrate outside the park in the winter are subject to legal hunting seasons in Montana and Wyoming. Approximately 3,000 to 5,000 elk are harvested annually by hunters outside the park as part of state-managed conservation efforts to control population growth and prevent overgrazing. Inside the park, the primary "killers" of elk are wolves and grizzly bears. Wolves are responsible for roughly 1,500 to 2,500 elk kills per year, though this fluctuates based on the wolf population and the severity of the winter. During particularly harsh winters with deep snow, hundreds of elk may also die from starvation or exhaustion. As of 2026, the elk population remains healthy and stable at roughly 10,000 to 20,000 animals, with biologists viewing these "deaths" as a vital part of the park's ecosystem, providing essential protein for scavengers like coyotes, eagles, and ravens.