Time for Nature

A nomad at risk

February 18, 2008

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The Eastern Wolf in La Mauricie National Park of Canada

La Mauricie National Park of Canada is home to the Eastern Wolf , but even this haven cannot protect this species from being at risk. Wolf packs are natural wanderers. Even a national park cannot contain them. And when they roam, these nomadic wolves are vulnerable to hunting, trapping and other human activities on lands nearby. Parks Canada is currently working cooperatively with nearby landowners and local hunters to increase awareness and promote conservation action to ensure the wolves’ survival.

Why protect this predator?

As a top-level predator, the wolf helps keep other species’ populations in balance. As well as being a vital part of La Mauricie’s ecosystem. the Eastern Wolf is designated a species of special concern.

These wolves really get around!

As the wolf is a first level predator, it helps to limit the population growth of other species.
© Parks Canada, Jacques Pleau

Between 2000 and 2003, biologists studied wolves in a 3500 km ² area that includes La Mauricie. Sixteen wolves belonging to four different packs were fitted with radio-collars . Of the four packs under study, two use part of the national park. Results from these studies provided some clues as to the species’ decline.

In search of food, wolves travel on average about 25 km per day. In winter wolves visit the numerous moose and deer yards in and around the park. These large cervids are less agile in deep snow, and therefore easier for wolves to catch.

However, wandering outside the park in search of prey can be hazardous. During the study, pack sizes were reduced by more than half every year. Pups were especially hard hit. Over the course of the study, only 11 percent of the radio-collared pups survived.

Where is the danger?

Wolves travel great distances and sometimes go beyond the boundaries of the park.
© Parks Canada, Jacques Pleau

Fall and winter always brought about a number of losses, but the key problem was not cold temperatures or lack of food. Studies found that trapping was the most significant cause of death, particularly for pups, which are less alert to danger. Ninety percent of deaths were attributable to trapping, independent of whether the wolves lived in the national park where hunting and trapping are prohibited, or in unprotected surrounding areas. Logically, we would expect that the packs occupying the greatest portion of the park would be better protected than the other packs being studied. However, every spring, only two or three wolves in each of the park packs remained.

It is not surprising that, after the trapping season, the packs were greatly reduced. Currently, there is no limit to the number of wolves that can be legally trapped. Within the area under study, there are on average a dozen trappers on a single wolf pack’s territory!

Cooperative solutions

In winter wolves visit the numerous moose and deer yards in and around the park.
© Parks Canada, M. Mills, 1996

To ensure the wolves survival, Parks Canada is working collaboratively with landowners and hunters to protect and monitor the wolves’ population both in La Mauricie National Park and throughout the region. Parks Canada has also begun an extensive educational project in collaboration with Info-Nature Mauricie to engage the community in the protection of wolf.

By working together and taking the right steps now, the Eastern Wolf has a better chance of a future!

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