When I was dealing a lot with working dogs I once ran over the information
that from a wild wolves litter only 10 -15% of the puppies were alive after
their second winter. That is tough and as far as I know it applies to most
living creatures living natural lives. Nature is not kind.

Todd wrote:
> How common is death from old age among
> wild mammalian species?  I have a hunch it is quite rare, but no firm
> data.  And yet this is the sort of death to which paleo dieters and
> other health enthusiasts aspire.
>