Public Registry: Archives

This book examines the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and how it can provide models for a time-tested form of sustainability needed in the world today. The essays, written by a team of scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, explore TEK through compelling cases of environmental sustainability from multiple tribal and geographic locations in North America and beyond. Addressing the philosophical issues concerning indigenous and ecological knowledge production and maintenance, they focus on how environmental values and ethics are applied to the uses of land. Grounded in an understanding of the profound relationship between biological and cultural diversity, this book defines, interrogates, and problematizes, the many definitions of traditional ecological knowledge and sustainability. It includes a holistic and broad disciplinary approach to sustainability, including language, art, and ceremony, as critical ways to maintain healthy human-environment relations.

Key words: traditional ecological knowledge, sustainability, wolves, ravens

Understanding how populations are structured and how they use natural and anthropogenic spaces is essential for effective wildlife management. A total of 510 barren-ground (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), 176 boreal (R. t. caribou), 11 mountain woodland (R. t. caribou), and 39 island (R. t. groenlandicus x pearyi) caribou were tracked with satellite collars in 1993-2009 in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and northern Alberta. Using satellite location data and hierarchical and fuzzy cluster analyses, I verified that Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-West, Bluenose-East, Bathurst, Beverly, Qamanirjuaq, and Lorillard barren-ground subpopulations were robust; the Queen Maude Gulf and Wager Bay barren-ground subpopulations were distinct. Dolphin and Union island caribou formed one population; boreal caribou formed two distinct subpopulations. Females in robust subpopulations were structured by strong annual spatial affiliation; those in distinct subpopulations were spatially independent and structured by migratory connectivity, movement barriers, and/or habitat discontinuity. An east-west cline in annual-range sizes and path lengths supported the subpopulation structure identified for migratory barren-ground caribou. I analyzed satellite location data to determine parturition dates and activity periods for all caribou ecotypes. For parturition dates I found a north-south cline for boreal caribou, west-east cline for migratory barren-ground caribou, and ecotype and subspecies clines for boreal and barren-ground caribou. Based on annual changes in movement rates I identified eight activity periods for boreal and tundra-wintering, 10 for mountain woodland, and 12 for migratory barren-ground caribou. Based distribution and movements, boreal caribou avoided seismic lines during periods when females and calves were most vulnerable to predators or hunters. They crossed fewer seismic lines and travelled faster when they crossed them than expected. Caribou avoided areas ≤400 m from seismic lines where they could space away from them suggesting that they perceive these as risky areas. I defined secure habitats as areas that were >400 m from anthropogenic linear features. Population growth rates were higher in areas where they had access to secure unburned habitat and where most of that was in patches >500 km2. Critical habitat for boreal caribou is a habitat state that provides “security” from predation risk and facilitates the effectiveness of their anti-predator strategies.

The grey wolf has one of the largest historic distributions of any terrestrial mammal and can disperse over great distances across imposing topographic barriers. As a result, geographical distance and physical obstacles to dispersal may not be consequential factors in the evolutionary divergence of wolf populations. However, recent studies suggest ecological features can constrain gene flow. We tested whether wolf-prey associations in uninterrupted tundra and forested regions of Canada explained differences in migratory behaviour, genetics, and coat colour of wolves. Satellite-telemetry data demonstrated that tundra wolves (n = 19) migrate annually with caribou (« = 19) from denning areas in the tundra to wintering areas south of the treeline. In contrast, nearby boreal coniferous forest wolves are territorial and associated year round with resident prey. Spatially explicit analysis of 14 autosomal microsatellite loci (n = 404 individuals) found two genetic clusters corresponding to tundra vs. boreal coniferous forest wolves. A sex bias in gene flow was inferred based on higher levels of mtDNA divergence (Fg^ = 0.282, 0.028 and 0.033; P < 0.0001 for mitochondrial, nuclear autosomal and Y-chromosome markers, respectively). Phenotypic differentiation was substantial as 93% of wolves from tundra populations exhibited light colouration whereas only 38% of boreal coniferous forest wolves did (y} = 64.52, P < 0.0001). The sharp boundary representing this discontinuity was the southern limit of the caribou migration. These findings show that substantial genetic and phenotypic differentiation in highly mobile mammals can be caused by prey-habitat specialization rather than distance or topographic barriers. The presence of a distinct wolf ecotype in the tundra of North America highlights the need to preserve migratory populations.

Keywords: Canis lupus, foraging ecology, gene flow, grey wolf, migratory behaviour, phylogeography

Various jurisdictions in Canada and the United States have implemented programs to manage wolves, often in response to concerns for declining ungulate populations. Lethal and/or non-lethal methods have been used in Northwest Territories (NWT), Yukon, Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta with varying results. Historically, trapping and ground shooting of wolves was encouraged through incentive programs, some of which included use of poisons. Current, on-going wolf management programs often integrate harvest-based techniques with more intensive approaches, such as aerial shooting. For programs that have included monitoring initiatives, results suggest that without continued, targeted wolf removals in the area of concern, any positive responses by the ungulate population(s) of concern are typically not sustained. In an effort to support recovery of the Bathurst caribou herd and contribute to an informed response, this report provides information on options for management of wolves using examples from jurisdictions surrounding NWT, including the effectiveness, cost, and humaneness of control methods, local and First Nations involvement in programs, and plans used to guide wolf management. A significant challenge to wolf management on the range of the Bathurst caribou herd is the migratory nature of this predator-prey system resulting in a potential need to consider management actions on wolves more broadly.

This report reflects current documented Tłı̨chǫ knowledge and perspectives in which wolves live in an environment that includes Tłı̨chǫ and caribou.

Management of wolves (Canis lupus) in British Columbia, as with most other Canadian provinces, is conducted on a regional scale (38,557–252,776 km²), yet there is no standardized, cost-effective methodology for providing reliable estimates of wolf abundance at this scale. Therefore, we used periodic estimates of ungulate abundance and incorporated them into an ungulate biomass regression model to estimate wolf abundance on a regional and provincial (900,402 km²) scale over a 12-year period (2000–2011). In 2011, the provincial estimate was 8,688 (95% CI = 5,898–11,760) wolves (7–13 wolves/1,000 km²), while
regional wolf abundance estimates ranged from 149 (95% CI = 100–205) to 2,693 (95% CI = 1,818–3,608) with differences related to regional scale (km2) rather than wolf densities (4–15 wolves/1,000 km²). We
suggest the ungulate biomass regression model is useful to estimate the abundance of wolves for management purposes when precise estimates are not required and wolf populations are not heavily exploited or recovering.

KEY WORDS abundance, British Columbia, Canis lupus, ungulate biomass, wolves.

The food habits of tundra wolves were investigated mainly between 1960 and 1965, although some work continued until 1968. Studies were carried out in spring and summer in the Thelon Game Sanctuary,  Northwest Territories, with supplementary winter work on caribou winter range north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and east of Fort Smith.  Tag recoveries showed that tundra wolves may migrate over 200 miles and that their movements are associated with those of the barren-ground caribou. During the winter tundra wolves eat only caribou; during the spring and summer they vary their diet by eating small rodents, passerine birds, eggs and fish, particularly in areas temporarily devoid of caribou. Wolves prey on calves  more than other age classes of caribou, but caribou of over 8 years are also heavily preyed on. Wolves kill at least four times as many female caribou as males. Caribou killed in winter are completely utilized by wolves: in summer, parts of carcasses are often left to scavengers. The initial point of attack is the neck, and the caribou is pulled down or knocked down by the impact of the onrushing wolf. During maximum compression of wintering caribou populations, wolf densities of one wolf per 6.9 square miles were reached.
A captive wolf requires 3.23 pounds of bison meat and fat and 0.26 pounds of dog food daily. Mean growth curves illustrate the rapid early growth of cubs.

The severity of recent declines of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) across the central Canadian Arctic has led to harvest restrictions and concerns about population recovery. Wolves (Canis lupus) are the main predator of barren-ground caribou; however, the extent that wolves influence the decline and recovery of caribou herds is unknown. Such uncertainty confounds management  responses (e.g., reducing harvest, predator control). We investigated wolf–caribou dynamics on the summer range of barren-ground caribou in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada (i.e., Bathurst caribou herd). Our primary objective was to test for a numerical response of wolves to changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of caribou. Caribou experienced a >90% decline in abundance over the study period (1996–2014). Using long-term data sets (1996–2012), we developed regression models to investigate relationships between abundance indices of wolves and range-use patterns of caribou. We monitored the movements of adult female wolves fitted with global positioning system (GPS) collars representing individual packs throughout the 2013 and 2014 denning periods. We also investigated pup recruitment, an index of population decline, at a time of low caribou abundance. Finally, we developed a series of stochastic population models to understand how pup recruitment influenced wolf densities on the Bathurst range over the period of caribou decline. As caribou abundance decreased, the late-summer distribution of the Bathurst herd contracted toward the calving ground. These movements correlated with low rates of wolf pup recruitment
and high den abandonment, suggesting a regulatory mechanism whereby wolf reproductive success was limited by the low availability of caribou within the denning areas. Furthermore, these data suggested a
numerical response, where wolf densities decreased as caribou numbers declined. In 2014, wolf density was estimated at <4 wolves/1,000 km2. Our results suggest that these wolves exhibited a relatively strong
numerical response to a single, declining prey base. Given the continued decline in the Bathurst caribou herd, the tundra wolf population on the Bathurst range has likely declined below our 2014 estimate. 

KEY WORDS Canis lupus, Northwest Territories, numerical response, Nunavut, population dynamics, predator–prey relationships, Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus.

My study focused on investigating wolf-caribou dynamics on the summer range of the Bathurst caribou herd. I used a multi-scale study design to investigate the behavioural and population responses of wolves during a severe decline in caribou numbers. The summer ranges of the Bathurst herd contracted north towards their calving grounds as the herd declined and caribou remained farther from the summer territories of wolves for relatively longer portions of the denning period. Density-dependent range contraction of caribou correlated with increases in den abandonment and lower pup recruitment, eventually leading to a decrease in wolf density. At low caribou abundance, variation in wolf movements indicated that prey were more readily available for some packs than others; extended movements away from the den in search of prey correlated with higher rates of pup mortality. My results documented a strong numerical response of wolves to a single declining prey base.

The genetic variability of gray wolves (Canis lupus) from northwestern Canada was assessed through starch-gel electrophoresis. Of 27 protein systems examined, 25, representing 37 presumptive loci, were consistently scorable; 7 proteins (5 were consistently scorable) exhibited polymorphism. The level of heterozygosity (3.0%) was medial relative to values reported for natural populations of Carnivora and high relative to values reported for natural populations of canids. An overall pattern of few deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations and some spatial heterogeneity was observed. Wolves associated with different
caribou herds exhibited a low level of differentiation (FsT = 0.029). The pattern of variability supports the view of a large panmictic population resulting from extensive movements of individuals and packs and from natural and human impacts on pack structure and formation.

Kelsall, J. P. 1968. The migratory barren-ground caribou of Canada. Canadian Wildlife Service Monograph, 3:1-340. Book  Copyright protected (A copy is available to review, at the Legislative Library.)

This study is a part of a study on contaminants in a northern terrestrial environment. It is well recognized that a wealth of traditional knowledge (TK) exist about the ecology of caribou, and that TK may illuminate the contaminants’ study. On the other hand, a lot of TK has never been documented yet. The goal of the contaminants study was to investigate if fluorinated hydrocarbons (Perfluorocarboxylic acids [PFCAs] and Perfluorosulfonates [PFSAs]) bio-magnify in the terrestrial food system.

Key words: traditional knowledge, contaminants, food chain, caribou ecology, porcupine caribou herd, Gwich’in, barrenground caribou, wolves

The nature and severity of a bullet wound depend on the characteristics of the bullet and of the tissues through which it travels. In addition to the mass and velocity of the bullet, its orientation and whether it fragments or deforms affect the nature of the wound. Two major mechnaisms of wounding are described: crushing and stretching of tissue. Understanding the mechanisms by which bullets disrupt tissue can help physicians to evaluate and treat wounds.

An aerial survey with about 5% coverage of the northeastern mainland, Northwest Territories (342 000 km²) was conducted 5-12 May 1983. We estimated there were 120,000 + 13,900 caribou (0.35 + 0.041caribou km²) in the studyarea. Mean caribou group size ranged from 6 to 11 among nine strata and was correlated (r= 0.81) with stratum caribou density. We found four regions of high caribou density. Three regions coincided with the calving grounds of previously defined herds, the Melville, Wager, and Lorillard, and the fourth suggests a discrete population in the previously unsurveyed area south of the Queen Maud Gulf.

Key words: caribou, aerial survey, Rangifer, distribution, abundance, northeastern Northwest Territories

Most wolves (Canis lupus) on migratory caribou (Rangifer tarandus) ranges in the Northwest Territories den near the tree line, the northern limit of tree growth. Sixty percent of the 209 dens that we located were within 50 km of the tree line, an area representing only 25 % of the caribou range. Den density in the forest was significantly lower than expected if dens were randomly dispersed. Within the tundra zone wolves did not show any preference for denning near caribou calving grounds. Most wolves may den at the tree line because caribou are likely available for a greater proportion of the denning period than they would be elsewhere and because caribou are usually abundant near the tree line in September, when the nutritional demands of the pups are greatest. Within the tree-line zone, habitat characteristics appeared to affect the local distribution of dens because wolves preferred to den where the roots of trees and shrubs provided structural support for the tunnels. With most wolves denning at the tree line, density-dependent summer range expansion and contraction by caribou may provide a mechanism by which changing caribou densities could influence the growth rate of the wolf population.