The Historical Record
Last Update/Review: May 27, 2002
When European explorers entered present-day Alberta, wolves were widespread and abundant. Anthony Henday, the first fur trader to see Alberta, observed many wolves in association with bison herds in 1754 and recorded in his diary, "I cannot say whether them (wolves) or the Buffalo are most numerous." Over 100 years later, the famous Palliser expedition, which explored the western Canadian plains during 1857-1860, noted plentiful wolves in the Battle River and other areas, and reported Native claims of occasional outbreaks of rabies in wolves. A few years after that, in about 1865, the Reverend John McDougall described abundant wolves at bison hunt camps and their depredations of horses.
D. Crossley photo |
Then the tide for wolves began to change for the worse. The first phase of their demise was the slaughter of bison. The 1860s and 1870s saw the once great herds extirpated over most of the western plains. Other ungulates suffered too—from over-hunting by settlers, and market hunting for developing towns, railways and mines. Severe winter weather and uncontrolled fires took their toll. Without their usual prey, the wolves were hard-pressed to survive.
But that was not to be their only blow. "Wolfing" — the poisoning of wolves at carcasses — became an easy and lucrative means to harvest wolves. Thousands were taken in this way. Fur trappers spread the use of poisons to the wolves of the forested north and west. The wolf persisted, so in 1899 a wolf bounty was implemented in southern Alberta. This program, administered during the early years by the Western Stock Growers' Association, paid for 2849 wolves by 1907. That year, the province extended the bounty to include all of Alberta. By the early 1900s, wolves were dramatically reduced throughout the southern portions of the province.
A. Taylor photo |
The pressure on wolves in the new province of Alberta continued during the first quarter century through control actions in agricultural areas and through the bounty. The last wolves were removed from Waterton Lakes National Park in extreme southern Alberta in 1922 because of their kills of livestock in neighboring regions. During this period of declining wolves and the initiation of legal protection of big game, ungulate herds increased. The elk population, decimated to fewer than 400 in the province by 1910, recovered dramatically following reintroductions and rigid protection. Deer, moose and bighorn sheep increased as well.
The wolves responded slowly. Dewey Soper, one of Canada's greatest early mammalogists, reported on the abundance of wolves in Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) in 1925. A southerly expansion of these northern wolves, and an influx from far western Alberta and British Columbia, occurred during the 1930s according to wildlife manager, John Stelfox. He later chronicled the gradual buildup of wolves during the 1930s and 1940s, which was marked by periodic removal of the wolf bounty. The low market value of wolf pelts discouraged trappers. By the late 1940s the species had achieved a remarkable comeback throughout much of forested Canada, but it was to be short-lived.
Agriculturists soon reported severe depredations of livestock, and hunters began to complain of poor survival of game herds. By the mid- to late 1940s, wildlife managers had become concerned about the loss of game to wolves. A similarly concerned group of sportsmen conducted a pilot wolf control program in the Clearwater Forest in 1951 with the approval of the Game Commission. Snares were legalized for the trapping of wolves and coyotes, and cyanide "coyote-getters" were distributed to forestry personnel. Control even resumed in the national parks.
In 1952, hard times returned with a vengeance for wolves in all of Alberta. After rabies, that dreaded disease, spread from northern foxes into coyotes and wolves, the province's veterinary service began management actions that included control of large carnivores. Thousands of wolves were killed, mostly by poisoning during 1952-1956. John Stelfox estimated that a provincial population of 500-1000 survived. For the second time since the beginning of settlement, wolves in Alberta were at a low point.
Occasional wolf control to assist game herds continued during the late 1950s and early 1960s. In the national parks, control was terminated in 1959-60 (1969 in WBNP). On provincial land, managers attempted to integrate wolf numbers with game abundance, range conditions, and hunter harvests. Control was light and sporadic until 1965-66 when 73 wolves were removed. After the decision to suspend wolf reductions was made, wolves could breathe a little easier. The moratorium on wolf control to enhance ungulates was to last for at least 29 years.
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The wolves did not waste much time in responding. By the mid-1970s their numbers had risen to levels comparable to those of the late 1940s. But this time, more sophisticated projects were in place; several population studies were completed or in progress. Depredations by wolves were carefully investigated and recorded. A compensation program to assist livestock owners with losses to predators began in 1974. Wolf diseases were monitored.
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Wolves spread farther south and occupied habitats like the Frog Lake Moraine and the Beaver River Metis Settlement where they had not been observed for many years. Along the eastern slopes of the Rockies, wolves expanded their distribution to the Highwood River by 1975. Concurrently, confirmed sightings of wolves were reported near Provost, Cypress Hills and Waterton Lakes National Park. The resilient wolf was back to stay.
