Present Status of the Wolf
Last Update/Review: May 27, 2002
The
map shows the distribution of wolves in Alberta during the early 1990s.
Total occupied range with permanent populations is about 400 000 km² or
60 percent of the provincial land area.
Biologists used field observations and monitoring efforts, based on radio transmitters in neck collars, to determine the number of wolves in several areas. These studies (locations shown on map; detailed results in table) revealed low to moderate wolf densities (measured as the number of wolves per 1000 km²).
The provincial population for the period 1975-1985 was estimated using the results from five study areas. The average annual winter population was calculated at 4200 wolves. It included averages of 919 km² for pack territories, 8.7 wolves per pack and an adjustment of 12 percent for lone wolves. At the end of winter, approximately 3500 wolves would survive. With the birth of pups in spring, about 5000 wolves would start another year. Status of wolves in each of the intensive study areas is described below.
Jasper National Park — In an early study during 1942-1946, when ungulates were abundant and overgrazing their winter range, Ian McTaggart-Cowan found about 48 wolves, a low density (4/1000 km²). Park wardens were controlling wolves to keep their numbers down. Twenty-five years later during 1969-1970, a time when wolves were protected in the park, Ludwig Carbyn of the Canadian Wildlife Service found, through tracking and sightings by wardens, about the same numbers as in Cowan's time. In this study area, control on adjacent provincial lands may have kept wolf numbers down. Then in the 1970s, wolves increased generally in the province as well as in the park. Dick Dekker, a naturalist who made several trips each year to the park to observe wolves, reported a dramatic increase in the population. From his own observations and warden reports, he estimated at least 80-100 wolves by 1974. These relatively high numbers endured until 1982 when the population began a steep decline following the near demise of elk herds in remote districts of the park.
Northeastern Alberta — Todd Fuller and Lloyd Keith, researchers with the University of Wisconsin, monitored wolves on the 25 000 km² Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program (AOSERP) area near Fort McMurray during 1976-1977. Radio-telemetry data from four packs, a trapper survey and incidental observations were combined to estimate a population of 166 wolves (7/1000 km²). The low density reflected the slowly declining moose population of 180/1000 km².
Swan Hills — The AOSERP researchers also monitored two radioed packs in the Swan Hills. They estimated 24 wolves in 2000 km or 12/1000 km². The moose population at about 1500/1000 km² was much greater than in the AOSERP area.
Simonette River — During 1975-1981, Ron Bjorge, Bill Johnson, John Gunson, and their Alberta Fish and Wildlife colleagues investigated the wolf population near Valleyview to evaluate predation of livestock in the forest-agricultural transition zone. Twenty-five wolves were radio-collared. During 1975-1979, when control was replaced by special compensation, the wolves increased to 24/1000 km². In this productive habitat with wild ungulates, beaver and livestock, the upward trend in wolves may have continued, but was reversed with local control during 1979-80 in response to livestock depredations.
Wood Buffalo National Park — Wolves were observed on the bison ranges in WBNP during 1978-1981 by Lu Carbyn of the Canadian Wildlife Service, University of Calgary researcher Sebastian Oosenbrug, and the park's warden service. They radioed and monitored 38 wolves in eight packs and an additional five lone or paired wolves. The population remained stable at about 25/1000 km² during the period of study.
Nordegg — Ken Schmidt and John Gunson of Alberta Fish and Wildlife and Peter Clarkson of the University of Calgary studied wolves in the mountainous and foothill habitats near Nordegg during 1983-1986. Six wolves in two packs were radioed. Low wolf densities were related to low populations of ungulates.
| Wolf population trends and densities on seven areas in Alberta | |||
| Area | Period | Trenda | Wolves/100km² |
| Jasper National Park | 1969-1972 | S | 3-4 |
| Jasper National Park | 1973-1982 | I | 7-9 |
| Jasper National Park | 1983-1989 | D | 2-4 |
| AOSERP | 1975-1978 | I | 7 |
| Swan Hills | 1975-1976 | D | 12 |
| Wood Buffalo National park | 1973-1979 | D | 15-25 |
| Simonette River | 1975-1979 | I | 11-24 |
| Simonette River | 1979-1981 | D | 2-24 |
| Nordegg | 1983-1985 | I | 5-7 |
| Banff National Park | 1988-1990 | I | 5-6 |
| a S=Stable, I=Increase, D=Decline | |||
Oldman River/Livingston Range — Researchers from the University of Montana, assisted by Alberta Fish and Wildlife, attempted wolf capture in southwestern Alberta in 1982 as part of a continuing wolf recovery program in northern Montana. Despite intensive efforts, no wolves were captured. The few sightings, combined with known shootings during the study, confirmed the sporadic occurrence of wolves in this area.
Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country — By 1930, no viable wolf population existed in Banff National Park. Despite a comeback in the 1940s when biologist Hubert Green reported five packs, wolves lost ground in the 1950's as a result of control by park wardens. Lone wolves were again sighted in the mid- to late 1970s and pack activity was documented in the Bow River Valley in 1982. During the 1980s, Banff's wolf population increased to several packs, which became the subject of scientific study by the warden service's Mike Gibeau, World Wildlife Fund's Paul Paquet and University of British Columbia's David Huggard. Elk predominated in the summer and winter diets of two wolf packs inhabiting lower elevations. By 1990, there were about 40 wolves in the park.
As wolf recovery was occurring in Banff National Park, packs began to assemble in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and adjacent areas of Kananaskis Country. Wolves, some originally marked in Montana and Banff, denned and raised pups in the Highwood and Sheep river drainage's. Elise Gallerani of the University of Calgary, Steve Donelon of the provincial park and Paul Paquet used satellite telemetry to show that wolves of this area traveled to British Columbia, eastern Idaho and Montana.
