VOLUNTEER CARNIVORE TRACK SURVEYS - Part of an Integrated Approach to Monitoring Wisconsin Wolves
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Transcript of VOLUNTEER CARNIVORE TRACK SURVEYS - Part of an Integrated Approach to Monitoring Wisconsin Wolves
VOLUNTEER CARNIVORE TRACK SURVEYS - Part of an Integrated Approach to Monitoring
Wisconsin Wolves
by
Jane E. Wiedenhoeft
WISCONSIN WOLF HISTORY1800 3,000-5,000 wolves
1865 State Bounty 1,000+ wolves
1957 End State Bounty <24 wolves
1960 Wolf Extirpated in State 0 wolves?
1974 Listed Federally Endangered 0 wolves?
1975 Listed State Endangered 2-3 wolves?
1979 WDNR begins monitoring 25?
1989 Wisconsin Wolf Recovery Plan 31 wolves
1999 State Downlisted as ThreatenedWisconsin Wolf Management Plan
205 wolves
2003 Federally Downlisted to Threatened 335 wolves
2004 State De-listed 373 wolves
2005 Federal Downlisting voided by courtRe-listed as Federally Endangered
425 wolves
PrimaryWolf Monitoring Techniques
• Live-trapping / radio monitoring
• Winter snow track surveys by DNR
• Summer howl surveys
• Snow track surveys by volunteers
AdditionalWolf Monitoring Techniques
• Necropsy of dead wolves
• Depredation trapping by USDA - Wildlife Services
• Public observation reports
Monitoring to Determine:
• Distribution
• Minimum population count
• Mortality / Survival
• Reproduction
• Health
• Den & Rendezvous sites
• Dispersal
Winter Snow Track Surveys by DNR & Volunteers
7,713 miles were tracked by DNR & volunteer trackers during winter 2004-2005
Training Requirements:
• Wolf ecology (added 2001)• Track training• Track test (added 1999)
Expectations:
• Survey block assignment• Conduct 3 surveys• Follow DNR guidelines• Send results in on time
Volunteer Carnivore Tracking Program
Survey Blocks Tracked by
DNR &
Volunteers 2004-2005
Winter Track Surveys in Wisconsin by WDNR & Volunteers
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000M
ile
s s
urv
ey
ed
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
VolunteersDNR
Wolf Detection RatesDNR vs. Volunteer Trackers
With Varying Experience
0
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Mea
n W
olve
s/10
0 k
m
None <40 40-80 >80
Volunteer Experience (hrs)
Volunteers Mean Rate DNR Mean Rate
P=0.003
Live-trapping / Radio monitoringWolves are trapped & fitted with radiocollars; blood samples are taken for health monitoringmeasurements are taken physical condition of wolf is noted
Pilots locate radiocollared wolves about once a week; packs counts can sometimes be made from the air
Radio Monitored Packs
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% p
acks
rad
io m
onito
red
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# of
pac
ks
Packs
% Radio Monitored
Linear (% Radio Monitored)
Public Observation Reports(use with caution)
PACK COUNTS 2003
Date Count RLU Blood Type Name
Bootjack Lake - 8 (W336M Adult)
01/25/2003 1 P(obs) B.Kemper
01/26/2003 1 P(obs) D.Beeler
01/27/2003 1 P(obs) M.Theisen
02/04/2003 8 Pilot all lg- 4 blk-4 gry-all appear hlthy.
02/13/2003 1 P(obs) L.Miller
02/14/2003 0 DNR Jane (W. edge)
02/23/2003 3 x VT Ericksen
02/26/2003 1 P(obs) R.Johnson
03/02/2003 0 VT Ericksen
03/21/2003 2 P(tx) G.Rublee
PACK COUNTS 2003
Block PACKCurrent Count
Pilot Observ.
DNR Tracker Vol. Tracker Public Observ.
92 Ada Lake 2 2(winter,obs)P.Harrison
57 Augustine Lake 5 5(1/30 RLU) SB
70 Averill Creek 4 4(3/21) JW 5 (RLU 2/22)Wissink
25 Bearsdale 4 4(1/21 RLU)SB
34 Beaverdam Lake 2 2-3 (2/19 RLU , SB) 3-4(3/8tx)J.Rudloff
28 Bibbon Swamp 8 0(3/2) SB&AW 8(3/3 RLUw/bl 2/22)) Tutland1(2/10obs)E.Westlund
9 Bird Sanctuary 5 5(2/17) 3(2/15) R.Wilson 1(2/15obs)R.Wilson
37 Black Lake 4 2(12/3) 4-5(1/21 RLUw/bl)Moe
20 Blue Hills 2 2(3/5) JW 0(3/5)R.Anderson
53 Bootjack Lake 7 8(2/4) 0(2/14)JW 3(2/23 RLU) Ericksen2(3/21tx)G.Rublee
Minimum Statewide Wolf Counts & Counts Off Indian Reservations in Wisconsin 1980-2005
425
373
335327
257248
205
178
148
9983
574045403431281816151719272125
414
361
328
313
243239
199
169
140
93
1980 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 03 04 05
Statewide Wolf Count
Wolf Count OffReservations
Endangered Status
Threatened Status
Delisting Level
1985-2002 Average rate of population increase was 20%
2002-2005 Average rate of population increase was 9%
% of Wolf Count from Monitoring Sources
6%32%23%
39%
DNR
PilotsVolunteersReports
11%11%
46% 32%
Volunteers DNR
PilotsReports
By Reliability
1. Pilots
2. DNR
3. Volunteers
4. Reports
By Cost
1. Volunteers
2. Reports
3. DNR
4. Pilots
Average Pack SizeAverage Pack Territory Size
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1980 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89
1990 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99
2000 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05
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wo
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/pac
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Avg. pack territory size
Avg. 5-year territory sz
Avg. pack size
Avg. 5-year pack sz
Linear (Avg. 5-year pack sz)
Linear (Avg. 5-year territory sz)
1980 1985
Wisconsin Wolf Distribution
1990 1995
Wisconsin Wolf Distribution
2005
Wisconsin Wolf Distribution
2000
Estimate of Pups in Midwinter and Pup Survival
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Es
tim
ate
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up
s P
res
en
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0%
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20%
30%
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50%
60%
Per
cent
Pup
Sur
viva
l
Estimated Number ofPups Present
Percent Pup Survival
2003-2004 Minnesota Type Wolf Estimate
875 wolvesEstimate with most accurate data
991 wolvesEstimate including public reports
798 wolvesEstimate based on known pack distribution
2003-2004 Minnesota Type Wolf Estimate
Location of known wolf packs compared to modeled townships
Actual high count was 410 wolves
Adjusting for undercount of lone wolves 466 wolves
Major Funding:U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceState Wildlife Grants ProgramTimber Wolf AllianceDefenders of Wildlife
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Other Contributions:WDNR PilotsWDNR Wildlife ManagersNational Wildlife Health LabState Wildlife Health LabUSDA - Wildlife ServicesVolunteer Trackers