The influence of wolves on the ecology of mountain caribou ...

• Main Author: Allison, Bradley Armstrong
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2009
• Subjects: Alces alces; Canis lupus; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0088482; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0088482

The wolf (Canis lupus)/mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) spatial separation model (Seip 1992a) was examined in highland and mountainous areas of east central and southeastern British Columbia to determine the influence of wolves on mountain caribou ecology. Three key elements investigated were: the importance of wolf predation as a mountain caribou mortality factor, the elevational relationships of mountain caribou, wolves, and moose (Alces alces), and the seasonal dietary importance of moose to wolves. Mountain caribou mortality data from the Columbia Mountains and Quesnel Lake supported the hypothesis that wolf predation is greater in highland than in mountainous areas. Wolf predation was the main mortality factor of caribou in the highlands around Quesnel Lake, but was a minor factor in the other three study areas. Wolf predation at Quesnel Lake occurred primarily during summer/fall at low elevations. Mountain caribou, wolf and moose radio-telemetry data suggested that wolves in both highland ...