the wolf presented by lauren n. watine. “we reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green...
TRANSCRIPT
The WolfPresented by Lauren N. Watine
“We reached the old wolf in time to watch a fierce green fire dying in her eyes... I was young then, and full of trigger-itch; I thought that because fewer wolves meant more deer, that no wolves would mean hunters’ paradise. But after seeing the green fire die, I sensed that neither the wolf nor the mountain agreed with such a view.”
Aldo Leopold
What is a wolf?• Introduction• Ecology• Management• The Future
Introduction
• Origins– Fox-like ancestors in early middle
Pliocene– Eurasia: Pleistocene period• ~1 million years ago
Introduction
• Classification and Taxonomy– Largest living WILD canid• Grey wolf• Red wolf
Introduction
Grey Wolf• Order: Carnivora• Family: Canidae• Genus: Canis• Species: lupus
Red Wolf• Order: Carnivora• Family: Canidae• Genus: Canis• Species: rufus
• Classification and Taxonomy
Introduction
• Classification and Taxonomy– 5-24 ssp. recognized in North America– Nowak• Canis lupus occidentalis• Canis lupus nubilis• Canis lupus arctos• Canis lupus lycaon • Canis lupus baileyi
Introduction
• Classification and Taxonomy– Hybridization• Canis lupus x Canis latrans
– Eastern grey wolf x coyote hybrids
Introduction
Grey Wolf• Mature males
– 20-80 kg– 1.27-1.64 m long– 66-81 cm shoulder
height
• Mature females– 16-55 kg– 1.37-1.52 m long
Red Wolf• Mature males
– 1300-1600 mm long– 20-35 kg
• Mature females– 16-25 kg
• Physical Characteristics
Overall size and weight increases south north
Introduction
• Physical Characteristics
Introduction
• Distribution and Abundance– Circumpolar throughout Northern
hemisphere• North of 15-20° N latitude
Introduction
• Conservation and Legal Status– Grey wolf• IUCN: Least Concern
– Red wolf• IUCN: Critically Endangered
Introduction
• Population Trends–Many populations have been decimated
or completely extirpated– Causes of decline • Agricultural expansion• Overhunting of ungulate prey• Intensive predator control
Introduction
• Value– Traditionally: pelts – Scientists: natural ecosystems– 1970s: symbol of wilderness– Economics• Wildlife Viewing• Ecotourism companies
Ecology
Ecology: Natural History
• Survival and longevity– 13 years in the wild– Pup Survival• Van Ballenberghe and Mech, 1975
Ecology: Natural History
• Diet Selection– Obligate carnivores• Ungulates• Beavers• Hares
– Scavenging
Daily maintenance requirement: 1.7 kg/wolf/day
Ecology: Natural History
• Habitat generalist– Influences on use?
Ecology: Natural History
• Sex Ratios–Males more common in high density
populations
Ecology: Natural History
• Physiology and growth– Sexual maturity • 9-46 months
– 62-63 day gestation• Average litter: 4-6 pups
Ecology: Natural History
• Physiology and growth– Pups• Blind• Deaf• Thermoregulation?• Waste elimination?
Ecology: Natural History
• Reproductive Strategy– High reproductive potential– Females in estrus 5-7 days• 1-3 breeding females
–Mate January April • Latitude-dependent
– Litters-per-pack?
Ecology: Natural History
• Reproductive Strategy– Percent pups in unexploited vs.
exploited populations• Wood Buffalo National Park• Great Slave Lake Area (Kelsall 1968)
Ecology: Natural History
• Reproductive Strategy– Unexploited populations: 60% of
females breed– Exploited populations: 90% of females
breed
Management implications?
Ecology: Behavior
• Social Structure– THE PACK• Hierarchical• 5-12 individuals
Ecology: Behavior
• Communication– Postures– Scent – Vocalization
Video
Ecology: Behavior
• Interspecific interactions– Interference competition– Positive and negative effects: other
predators• Ravens• Brown bears
Ecology: Behavior
• Movements– Dispersal–Migration• Caribou movements
– Home-range• Territories• Pimlott et al. 1969• Oosenbrug and Carbyn 1982
Ecology: Population Biology
• Mortality– Starvation– Intraspecific aggression– Disease
– Compensation?
Ecology: Population Biology
• Mortality– Harvest– Road-kills
Ecology: Population Biology
Management
Management
• The Endangered Species Act• 1995: Yellowstone National Park– Translocation
• June 2013 Proposal
Management
• Current Management– Regulation of legal harvest– Protection from harvest– Translocations–Wolf population reduction*
Management
• Monitoring– Harvest statistics• Age assessment
– Radio telemetry– Ground surveys– Aerial surveys*– Line-intercept track sampling*
Management
• Harvest– Exports/imports• CITES, Appendix II
Management
• Harvest
Management
• Harvest– Alaska: the only state to allow public
harvest• 1960: declared a game species • 1996: eliminated aerial hunting• Require an export permit to remove from
the state
Management
• Harvest– Alaska: the only state to allow public
harvest• Compliance?• Liberal regulations• Annual harvest
– 700-1600 individuals
Management
• Habitat– Park size• Buffer zones?
– Travel corridors– Logging operations
Management
• Livestock Depredation–Wolf control– Annual depredation• 0.23-3.0/1000 cattle• 2.66/1000 sheep
Management
• Humans– Increase ungulate species for harvest?• Controversial
Management
• Red Wolves and Coyotes– North Carolina• Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
The Future
The Future
• Coexistence at the local level– Social acceptance– Biological requisites
The Future
• Coexistence at the local level– Public education– Persecution
“We shall never achieve harmony with the land, anymore than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations the important thing is not to achieve but to strive.”
Aldo Leopold
Current EventWhat do we know about Canis rufus?• Extinct in the wild by 1980• Grey wolf X coyote hybrids not uncommon• Wolf X coyote hybrid, grey wolf, or a distinct species
Does it matter?http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2013/10/should-north-carolina-allow-coyote-hunting-red-wolf-country
Questions?
Idaho Department of Fish and Game: Wolf Monitoring Program
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkCE2IqYTFc
Sources• Wild Mammals of North America - P. Paquet and L. N.
Carbyn• Ecology and Management of Large Mammals in North
America - Demarais and Krausman• http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/links/3746/0• http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/links/3747/0• http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/• http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/
mammals/wolf/• http://www.fws.gov/director/dan-ashe/index.cfm/
2013/6/7/Gray-wolves-are-recovered-next-up-the-Mexican-wolf#more
• http://wyoming.sierraclub.org/WOLVES%20AND%20ECONOMICS.pdf
• http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/2013/10/should-north-carolina-allow-coyote-hunting-red-wolf-country
• http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/