Why was the saber tooth tiger extinct?
The saber-tooth tiger, also known as smilodon, has been extinct for about 11,500 years. There are a number theories about what drove the saber-tooth to extinction.Climate/Environment ChangeA recent study of DNA from bison fossils suggests that climate and the environment could no longer support bison, saber-tooth tigers, short-faced bears, wild horses and other similar animals.DietSaber-tooth tigers were scavengers and carnivores, probably feeding on mastodons, horses and bison. But there was fierce competition for food, and some theories suggest that a lack of resources eventually killed off the tigers.Tar PitsThe saber-tooth tiger is one of the most common species preserved in the LaBrae tar pits in Los Angeles, California, but why they were trapped there–along with other animals–is still hotly debated.Ice Age FloodGlacial Lake Missoula was once dammed by a lobe of Canadian ice. When the waters forced their way past the ice, parts of the Pacific Northwest were completely flooded.Hu
