Wolf ConservationIn Ontario

Midwest Wolf Stewards ConferenceDorset, OntarioApril 21-22, 2010

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wildlife and livestock, population control methods) 1972 provincial bounties rescinded Wolf Damage to Livestock Compensation Act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)

Algonquin Provincial Park

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

Territory size and density are also related to body size

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

Next Steps Use improved information to evaluate

effectiveness of current management practices and inform future decisions