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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
We studied the dynamics of a wolf (Canis lupus) population recovering from intensive reduction in the Finlayson Lake area, Yukon, Canada. Within 6 years, numbers increased from 29 wolves, then stabilized at 245. The colonization of vacant territories by young wolf pairs was the primary mechanism of early population recovery. Reproduction and a low dispersal rate increased pack size in later years, and pack splitting allowed dispersing wolves to remain near natal packs.