Southwest Alberta Wolves: Prey, Movements, and Habitat Andrea Morehouse, M.Sc. Candidate, University of Alberta Dr. Mark Boyce, Professor and ACA chair, University of Alberta
Wolves are a species of growing concern Need for effective management practices
Where the mountains meet the prairies.
Study Questions What are wolves eating and killing, and where do these activities take place? What variables influence wolf habitat selection and movement? How is it all related?
Claresholm # Study Area # Cities Roads Crowsnest Pack Crowsnest Pass # Pincher Creek # Bob Creek Pack Castle Carbondale Pack Parks Cardston # Public Land Boundary
Captured with helicopter or leg-hold traps GPS radiocollars 1 hour duty cycle Field upload capable 3 packs collared: Crowsnest Castle Carbondale Bob s Creek Collaring
Bob Creek Pack 4 adults Beta female collared December 17, 2008 North: Chimney Rock Rd East: Hwy 22 South: Oldman River West: Trunk Road
Crowsnest Pack 2 adults Alpha female collared July 5, 2008 North: Oldman River East: Hwy 22 South: Hwy 3 West: British Columbia
Castle Carbondale Pack 4 (6) adults Beta female collared June 20, 2008 Alpha female collared May 14, 2009 North: Hwy3 East: Gladstone Valley South: Waterton Lakes NP West: British Columbia
Waterton Wolves Two packs: Oil Basin: 2 adults Belly River: 3-4 adults
Data Downloads Ground track using traditional VHF telemetry Analyze for clusters Cluster = 3 hours within 100m Every 2 weeks non-grazing Every week grazing
Castle Carbondale Pack Cluster Example 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Kilometers Data Source: Castle Carbondale Sub-adult Female University of Alberta -
Cluster Results 698 GPS clusters have been visited 8 rendezvous 300 beds 206 kill/scavenging sites
Kill site analysis What are wolves eating and killing? Where do these activities take place? Scat analysis to provide broader spectrum of diet: 1113 scats
Kill Sites Wolves spent 1 to 7 days at kill Average 2.5 Deer, moose, elk, and cattle* found *Portion of all cattle have been compensated according to provincial guidelines
Pack Summary Non-Grazing Season Bob s Creek: 4 months Crowsnest: 6 months Castle Carbondale: 8 months Grazing Season Bob s Creek: 1 week Crowsnest: 3.5 months Castle Carbondale: 8 months **2009 grazing season CC collar was on alpha female
What are they eating? 1% Unknown 13% Scavenge 9% 12% 26% 39% Non-Grazing Season n=129
Non-Grazing Season By Pack 100 90 Percent (%) 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Crowsnest Castle Carbondale Bob Creek moose elk deer cattle unknown scavenge
What are they eating? Unknown 4% 9% 9% Scavenge Scavenge Scavenge 14% 21% 43% Grazing Season n=77
Grazing Season By Pack Percent (%) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Crowsnest Castle Carbondale Bob Creek moose elk deer cattle unknown scavenge
Age Class of Wild vs. Domestic Kills Located from GPS Clusters Percent (%) 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Young of Year Cattle Wild Yearling Adult Unknown
Kill clusters are: Closer to linear features In lower elevations In more open habitats than non-kill clusters
# #!(!( #!(! # (! (!( (!!(!( = Kill Sites!( = Bed Sites!(!(!( (!!(!(!( # ### # (!( # ##!( #
Risk Maps Kill Site Probability Value High Low 95% Kernal Home Range
Write a thesis. Next Steps
Thanks. Questions? Thanks to: Gordon Hoffman, Candice Tremblay, Annie Loosen, Preston Taylor, Matthew Hayes, James Pittman, Clay Wilton, and numerous land and livestock owners of SW Alberta