Table3 Rankedmodels used to test explanatory variables (elk availability (elk/wolf), deer availability (deer/elk), and mean snow depth) for changes in proportions of elk in summer cougar diets over time, including AIC scores, ΔAIC, Wi, andlikelihoods, in order of performance, best to worst.
| Model no. | No.of variables | Model | AIC | ΔAIC | Wi | Likelihood |
| 1 | 1 | {Elk/Wolf} | 144.0788 | 0.00 | 0.33 | 1.00 |
| 2 | 2 | {Deer/Elk+ Elk/Wolf} | 144.1373 | 0.06 | 0.32 | 0.97 |
| 3 | 2 | {Elk/Wolf+ Snow} | 145.2729 | 1.19 | 0.18 | 0.55 |
| 4 | 3 | {Deer/Elk+ Elk/Wolf + Snow} | 145.4837 | 1.40 | 0.16 | 0.50 |
| 5 | 2 | {Deer/Elk+ Snow} | 165.3835 | 21.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 6 | 1 | {Deer/Elk} | 167.8292 | 23.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 7 | 1 | {Snow} | 183.3962 | 39.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 |