Demography of an increasing caribou herd with restricted wolf control
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Published source details
Boertje R.D., Gardner C.L., Ellis M.M., Bentzen T.W. & Gross J.A. (2017) Demography of an increasing caribou herd with restricted wolf control. Journal of Wildlife Management, 81, 429–448.
Published source details Boertje R.D., Gardner C.L., Ellis M.M., Bentzen T.W. & Gross J.A. (2017) Demography of an increasing caribou herd with restricted wolf control. Journal of Wildlife Management, 81, 429–448.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Sterilize predators Action Link |
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Remove or control predators Action Link |
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Sterilize predators
A before-and-after study in 1994–2002 in a large forest and shrubland area in Alaska, USA and Yukon, Canada (Boertje et al. 2017) found that sterilising some wolves Canis lupus (and trapping and removing others) did not reduce caribou Rangifer tarandus mortality. The annual mortality of caribou calves (≤1 year old) did not differ after wolf sterilization and removal commenced (50–67%) compared to before (39–65%). Adult female (≥1 year old) annual mortality was also similar after wolf sterilization and removal commenced (9–10%) compared to before (9%). In a 50,000-km2 study area, 52–78 newborn caribou calves/year were radio-collared in May 1994–2002. In fifteen wolf packs, the dominant pair was sterilized in November 1997 and remaining wolves in those packs were translocated, mainly in April 1998. Eight additional packs were similarly treated over the following two winters. Caribou mortality was measured over four years before and five after wolf control commenced during ≥3 aerial surveys/year.
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
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Remove or control predators
A before-and-after study in 1994–2002 in a large forest and shrubland area in Alaska, USA and Yukon, Canada (Boertje et al. 2017) found that trapping and removing or sterilizing wolves Canis lupus did not reduce caribou Rangifer tarandus mortality. The annual mortality of caribou calves (≤1 year old) did not differ after wolf removal or sterilization commenced (50–67%) compared to before (39–65%). Adult female (≥1 year old) annual mortality was also similar after wolf removal or sterilization commenced (9–10%) compared to before (9%). In a 50,000-km2 study area, 52–78 newborn caribou calves/year were radio-collared in May 1994–2002. Caribou were monitored during ≥3 flights/year. In 15 wolf packs, the dominant pair was sterilized in November 1997 and remaining wolves in those packs were translocated, mainly in April 1998. Eight additional packs were similarly treated over the following two winters. Caribou mortality was measured over four years before and five years after wolf control commenced.
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
