wolf conservation in ontariopeople.trentu.ca/~brentpatterson/index_files/ontario_wolf update... ·...
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Canadian Status 50,000 - 60,000 wolves occupy 85% of historical range Eastern Gray Wolf - Special
Concern (2001) under Species at Risk Act found close to humans, difficult
to identify, and vulnerable to threats such as hybridization
Northern Gray Wolf – Not at Risk
Ontario Status 7,710 wolves (preliminary) occupy 85% historical
range (~ 800,000 km2) Eastern Wolf – Special
Concern (2004) under Endangered Species Act
Gray Wolf – Not at Risk generally healthy, some
mange
Overview of Management 1950-60s wolf/coyote hunting closed in most provincial parks
1957-65 several research studies (e.g. effect of wolves on
wildlife and livestock, population control methods) 1972 provincial bounties rescinded Wolf Damage to Livestock Compensation Act
Overview of Management (cont’d)
1980 classified as game & furbearers
1991 municipal bounties eliminated
1992-97 review of wolf and coyote status and policy
1998 mandatory wolf/coyote harvest reporting by
trappers
Overview of Management (cont’d)
1993 closed hunting/trapping winter season in 3 townships
outside Algonquin Provincial Park (Dec. 15 – Mar. 31)
1998-2000 increasing concern and debate about the long-term
viability of park wolves due to human-caused mortality outside the park
• Algonquin Wolf Advisory Group established• Population and Habitat Viability Assessment
(PHVA)
Overview of Management (cont’d)
2001 conservation strategy for park wolves:
• hunting/trapping is closed in park & 40 surrounding townships for 30 months
• research to evaluate wolf status & effect of ban 2004 season closure permanent (coyotes included)
Overview of Management (cont’d)
2004 eastern wolves listed provincially as Special
Concern
2005 Strategy for Wolf Conservation
Strategy for Wolf Conservation delivers on 2003 government commitment to:
““implement a proper wildlife management implement a proper wildlife management program for Ontarioprogram for Ontario’’s wolves. We will ensure s wolves. We will ensure
that Ontario gets the vital scientific that Ontario gets the vital scientific information it needs to protect information it needs to protect
and manage wolvesand manage wolves..””
strategy developed in consultation with many stakeholders
Strategy for Wolf Conservation (cont’d)
provides a framework for decision-making about wolf conservation in Ontario
establishes goal, guiding principles, objectives and key strategies for wolf conservation
guides longer term development and refinement of Ontario’s wolf conservation program
Strategy for Wolf Conservation (cont’d)GOAL
To ensure ecologically sustainable wolf populations and the ecosystems on which they
rely for the continuous ecological, social, cultural and economic benefit of the
people of OntarioOBJECTIVES1. Ensure ecologically sustainable wolf populations2. Provide for social, cultural and economic benefits based
on ecologically sustainable wolf populations 3. Increase public awareness and understanding about the
role of wolves in natural functioning ecosystems and their conservation in Ontario
Strategy Implementation - 2005 closed summer season across wolf range
no wolf/coyote hunting& trapping from Apr 1 – Sept 14 to protect wolves rearing young
improved harvest assessment & management hunters must purchase wolf/coyote game seal (plus
small game licence), limit of 2 seals per hunter hunters must report hunting activity & harvest landowners must report wolves/coyotes killed in
protection of property (e.g., livestock) electronic application for hunting information
Coyotes included because it is difficult to distinguish wolves from coyotes in the wild where their ranges overlap
Canis Hybridization genetic evidence suggestsgenetic evidence suggests western coyotes & eastern wolves hybridizewestern coyotes & eastern wolves hybridize gray wolves & eastern wolves hybridizegray wolves & eastern wolves hybridize gray wolves & western coyotes do not hybridizegray wolves & western coyotes do not hybridize
eastern wolf putatively bridges geneeastern wolf putatively bridges gene--flow between gray flow between gray wolves and coyoteswolves and coyotes
western coyote eastern wolf gray wolf
Hunter and Trapper HarvestWolf/Coyote Hunters
0200400600800
1,0001,2001,400
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Year
Resident Non-resident
Hunter Harvest
0
200
400
600
800
2005 2006 2007 2008Year
Wol
ves/
Coy
otes
Resident Non-Resident
Trapper Harvest
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Wol
ves
Research Priorities1.1. Determine distribution of Determine distribution of canidcanid species & species &
associated hybridsassociated hybrids2.2. Determine abundance of each by region/ Determine abundance of each by region/
ecozoneecozone3.3. Determine magnitude & significance of major Determine magnitude & significance of major
limiting factors limiting factors 4.4. Determine relations with major prey species, Determine relations with major prey species,
including domestics & Species at Riskincluding domestics & Species at Risk
Current Research1.1. Provincial genetics/ morphology Provincial genetics/ morphology
•• genetic and morphological population definitiongenetic and morphological population definition•• role of protected areas in limiting hybridizationrole of protected areas in limiting hybridization
2.2. Kawartha Highlands Signature Site (KHSS) ParkKawartha Highlands Signature Site (KHSS) Park spatial & temporal dynamics of hybridization with spatial & temporal dynamics of hybridization with
coyotescoyotes ecological niche of coyotes & wolfecological niche of coyotes & wolf--coyote hybridscoyote hybrids
3.3. Algonquin Provincial ParkAlgonquin Provincial Park•• spatial & temporal dynamics of hybridization with spatial & temporal dynamics of hybridization with
coyotescoyotes•• assess assess ““nonnon--numericalnumerical”” benefits of protectionbenefits of protection
Eastern wolf/coyote hybrid study investigate causes and consequences of
hybridization understand mechanisms underlying hybridization what factors may promote or inhibit
hybridization? investigate Influence of
protected areas on hybridization Fragmentation Wolf/coyote harvest
Current Research (cont’d)
4.4. Refinement of population Refinement of population estimation techniquesestimation techniques•• determine relatively determine relatively
precise initial estimates of precise initial estimates of density by region using density by region using winter track based survey winter track based survey (SUPE)(SUPE)
•• determine provincedetermine province--wide wide estimate of abundanceestimate of abundance
•• implement less intensive implement less intensive means of indexing means of indexing population changespopulation changes
Wolf Ecological Zones
Density Estimates (/100 km2)
a 0.72 (2007)b 0.19 (2007)c 0.19 (2007)d 0.92 (2007)e 2.44 (2008)f 0.86 (2006)g 0.21 (2006)h 0.68 (2006)I 0.8-0.9 (06-08)j 0.64 (2006) k 3.1 (2006)l results pendingm 2.3-2.9 (02-07)n 2.2 (2005)
Survey areas for empirical estimates of wolf density in Ontario, 2005-08.
Survey areas for empirical estimates of wolf density in Ontario, 2005-08.
2009 surveyareas
Current Research (cont’d)
5.5. WolfWolf--caribou relations in northern Ontariocaribou relations in northern Ontario
Wolf-Caribou Dynamics Caribou persistence tenuous in managed Caribou persistence tenuous in managed
forestsforests Wolves generally major proximate cause of Wolves generally major proximate cause of
mortalitymortality Collared caribou primarily useful for Collared caribou primarily useful for
comparing relative survival in different comparing relative survival in different landscapes landscapes
Fine scale location and movement data on Fine scale location and movement data on wolves required to get at specific mechanisms wolves required to get at specific mechanisms effecting wolfeffecting wolf--caribou relations in managed caribou relations in managed forestsforests
Current Research (cont’d)
6.6. Determine relations with major prey species, Determine relations with major prey species, including domestics & Species at Risk by including domestics & Species at Risk by looking at looking at kill rates & prey selection: identify ungulate-kills using location data from
GPS-collared wolves assess rate and location in relation to habitat, prey
abundance & snow data, etc.
Current Research (cont’d)
7.7. Baseline ecological Baseline ecological information from information from representative representative ecosystems ecosystems emerging by meeting emerging by meeting above objectives:above objectives: population demography population demography
& dynamics& dynamics ecological role (e.g. ecological role (e.g.
predatorpredator--prey relations)prey relations)
Current Issues call for additional/total protection: no wolf harvest no eastern wolf harvest because it is of Special
Concern no wolf trapping in parks maintain protection around Algonquin Provincial Park more protected areas and increased habitat
connectivity among them protection through Frontenac Axis to enable
Algonquin Park wolves to naturally re-colonize the Adirondacks animal welfare issues around use of snares
Current Issues (cont’d)
call for reduced protection: increase in bold wolves and wolves near/in
communities remove protection around Algonquin Provincial Park
because it is not needed to preserve wolves in park wolf predation on moose, deer and beaver increasing livestock predation compensation
• most livestock predation occurs in coyote dominated areas
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