BACKGROUNDERONWOLF CONSERVATIONIN ONTARIO
Ontario Ministry of Natural ResourcesJune 2005
Backgrounder on Wolf Management in Ontario June 2005
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................1
2.0
HISTORIC AND PRESENT IMPORTANCE OF WOLVES..................2
2.1.
Social Importance............................................................................................2
2.2.
Ecological importance.....................................................................................2
2.3.
Economic Importance.....................................................................................3
2.4.
Aboriginal Interests.........................................................................................3
3.0
WOLF BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY......................................................4
3.1.
General Description.........................................................................................4
3.1.1.
Taxonomic Status and Distribution of Ontario
Canis
Species....................4
3.1.2.
Physical Description...................................................................................6
3.1.3.
Provincial Population Size, Trend and Population Significance.................7
3.2.
Ecological Role/Significance of Wolves......................................................10
3.2.1.
Prey Distribution and Status, and Selection by Wolves............................10
3.2.2.
Wolf Habitat Requirements......................................................................13
Denning Habitat................................................................................................13
Rendezvous Sites............................................................................................13
Habitat Fragmentation and Connectivity...........................................................14
3.2.3.
Population Dynamics and Community Ecology........................................15
Population Structure and Density.....................................................................15
Population Density...........................................................................................16
Reproduction....................................................................................................16
Dispersal..........................................................................................................17
Mortality............................................................................................................18
Intra-specific Strife.......................................................................................18
Diseases and Parasites...............................................................................18
Other Mortality Factors.................................................................................20
3.2.4.
Natural Regulation...................................................................................20
3.3.
Human Impacts on Wolf Populations...........................................................20
3.3.1.
Human-caused Mortality..........................................................................21
Hunting.............................................................................................................21
Trapping...........................................................................................................22
Defense of Property and Public Safety.............................................................23
3.3.2.
Predation on Domestic Animals...............................................................23
3.3.3.
Predation on Wild Prey............................................................................24
Backgrounder on Wolf Management in Ontario June 2005
ii
3.4.
Knowledge Gaps............................................................................................24
3.4.1.
Dispersal and Immigration........................................................................25
3.4.2.
Role of Disease........................................................................................25
3.4.3.
Wolf-human Relationships.......................................................................25
3.4.4.
Population Assessment............................................................................25
3.4.5.
Effects of Wolves on Low Density Prey....................................................25
3.4.6.
Pup Survival.............................................................................................25
4.0
RESEARCH........................................................................................26
4.1.
Ecological Research......................................................................................26
4.2.
Genetic research............................................................................................27
5.0
WOLF CONSERVATION APPROACHES.........................................27
5.1.
Legislation and Policy Affecting Wolves.....................................................27
5.1.1.
International.............................................................................................27
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Faunaand Flora (CITES)............................................................................................27
Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS).................28
5.1.2.
National....................................................................................................28
Species at Risk.................................................................................................28
5.1.3.
Provincial..................................................................................................29
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act...................................................................29
Crown Forest Management..............................................................................31
Species at Risk.................................................................................................32
Planning Act.....................................................................................................33
Regulated Parks and Protected Areas.............................................................33
Provincial Parks Act.....................................................................................33
Conservation Reserves Act..........................................................................34
Wilderness Areas Act...................................................................................35
Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy......................................................35
Livestock, Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act............................................36
5.2.
Habitat Management......................................................................................37
6.0
EDUCATION......................................................................................38
6.1.
Public..............................................................................................................38
6.2.
Hunters and Trappers....................................................................................39
7.0
LITERATURE CITED.........................................................................39
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