Wolf Management Plan
Last Update/Review: May 27, 2002
Comprehensive planning to ensure the wise use and management of wolves in Alberta occurred in the late 1980s. The Fish and Wildlife Division of Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife prepared a draft "Management Plan For Wolves in Alberta." It detailed the history of wolf populations in the province, summarized current uses and problems, and recommended goals, objectives and management strategies. The 1989 draft plan was considered by the Alberta Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee, a public board that provided input on provincial wildlife management. The committee endorsed the plan in March 1990 and recommended it be implemented. However, as is usually the case with wolf management, there was not unanimous agreement. Nine members voted in favour, three were opposed, and there were two abstentions.
From September 1990 to January 1991, the department revised the plan to clearly indicate the conditions under which wolf control, the most controversial part of the plan, would be considered. It was decided that control to enhance ungulates would not be initiated without the development of specific regional operational plans. Each operational plan must provide an incontestable scientific database on wolf-prey relationships, a cost:benefit analysis, and undergo public review.
The revised plan was released to the public in December 1991. Five major wolf management goals were identified, as follows:
- Maintain a viable provincial wolf population.
- Allocate annual wolf harvest.
- Minimize property damage from wolves.
- Increase knowledge of wolves.
- Manage wolves to enhance other wildlife.
Strategies and actions to achieve these goals are described below.
Viable Populations
The long-term objective is to maintain a midwinter population of 4000 wolves in Alberta.
This objective requires strategies to maintain about 200 000 hoofed mammals to provide about 30 000 prey animals for wolves each year, and an annual wolf inventory, where possible. Problems with this goal are that declining or low populations of woodland caribou, elk and moose occur in some areas, and wolves are difficult to observe in Alberta's heavily-forested habitats.
A second objective is to enhance wolf conservation and cooperative wildlife management and research programs. Strategies include a sighting registry, joint studies with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and maintenance of about 50 wolves in southwestern Alberta to assist in ongoing wolf recovery in the northwestern states.
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Wolf Harvest
This goal focuses on opportunities for people to annually remove wolves from the provincial population. Trappers were considered the priority users ahead of recreational hunters. A maximum potential harvest of 1200 wolves per year was recommended. Primary strategies to provide this harvest are to enhance education on wolf trapping, and in special cases, provide assistance to trappers in the form of road-killed animals for baits and complimentary traps or snares. Harvest management is confounded by problems that include low market demand for black wolves, occurrence of mange (a skin parasite) and mediocre pelt quality (coarse-haired individuals). Recreational hunting of wolves in Alberta is inefficient in areas of heavy tree cover.
Property Damage
The major objective of the Alberta government under this goal is the reduction of damages from wolves especially the predation of livestock and pets. Strategies include wildlife management planning input into land-use decisions especially those involving establishment of remote grazing reserves and leases, education to improve animal husbandry, annual removal of offending wolves where chronic depredations occur, and continued compensation for confirmed wolf kills.
Knowledge
It is important that the public has access to high-quality information concerning wolves in Alberta. To ensure this quality of information is available, the government recommends additional scientific study of wolf populations and prey relationships, and production of educational materials about wolves in Alberta.
Management of Wolves to Enhance Prey Populations
The Alberta government's objective is to manage wolf populations in local areas where predation has been shown to be a major limitation to hoofed mammals. The intention is to allow the caribou, elk or other ungulate populations to increase to levels that can be supported by existing habitat. Strategies include identifying the role of wolf predation where ungulate populations remain below historical levels, and reducing local wolf populations where wolf-prey information and public opinion are supportive.
