Protect Wolves in Canada's Central Rocky Mountains

 Canis lupus (C. lupus) is endangered in many parts of its former territory accross the northern hemishpere.  In Canada, wolves are not protected outside of National Parks.  Studies have shown us that these designated wilderness areas are not big enough to maintain a healthy population of wolves, and are too small to effectively conserve biodiversity (Natural Resources Canada, 2007).

The Central Rockies represents a unique ecological region of Canada, and Grey wolves (C. lupus) here have geographically distinct subpopulations, different from B.C.'s coastal wolves and Eastern Canada's red wolves (C. rufus).  The Central Rocky Mountain Corridor, from Jasper National Park (Alberta) to Glacier National Park (Montana), is essential in maintaining a healthy gene flow in wolf populations between Canada and the United States. 

We hope that forming a coalition of wolf advocates will help us to reach the goal of protecting the corridor.  We need to pass legislation to perpetuate existing populations where they occur, as recommended by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) guidelines on wolf conservation, (Hummel & Pettigrew, 1991). NLW is appealing to federal Environment Minister John Baird to create Buffer Zones to protect wolves around the 7 National Parks in the Canadian Central Rocky Mountains.   

In the past few decades, human use has intensified both within parks and just outside of these protected areas.  Pressures from industrial, commercial, and recreational activities are compromising the ecological integrity of these wilderness areas, (CPAWS, 2007). Because of this, the IUCN Manifesto on Wolf Conservation states that the importance and status of wolves should be taken into account by legislation and in planning for the future of any region, (Hummel & Pettigrew, 1991). 

A broad legislative tool governing buffer zones would enable us to properly manage the land use of areas adjacent to protected land.  Incompatible land use has been ranked as the most serious threat to parks and protected areas by most Park jurisdictions across Canada, (Environment Canada, 2006). A World Wolf Congress held in 2003 agreed that co-operation between neighbouring jurisdiction is needed to ensure the survival of wolves in the central Rockies, (Alberta Wildlife Enhancement Society, 2003).

The buffer zone requested would be 200km, and would effectively:
1. ban the hunting, trapping, or chasing of wolves year round;
2. restrict the use of motorized recreational vehicles (Banff National Park [BNP] has already asked the province of Alberta to limit access to motorized vehicles surrounding the Park, (Syme, 2003);
3. limit land use development to non-commercial and non resource extraction.   

Biologists researching wolves on behalf of Parks Canada have recognized C. lupus as a keystone species, capable of causing a trophic cascade when populations dip below a critical threshold (Hurd, et al.  2002), (Hebblewhite, et al. 2005).    As the number of grey wolves declines in the Central Rockies, a cascade effect is observed in which small mammals, fish, insects, birds, amphibians, ungulates, tree species and vegetation all suffer, ( Hebblewhite, et al. 2005). Top predators, such as wolves, are vital in maintaining the balance of a healthy ecosystem. 

• Biologists researching wolves in these National Parks recognize that the mostly alpine and subalpine habitats within the park provide less than optimal conditions for wolves to establish territories, (Regional Perspectives on Ecosystem Indicators and Issues, 2002), (Kootenay National Park of Canada, 2008), (Parks Canada, 2006), and (Defenders of Wildlife, 2006). 
• The wolf pack in Kootenay National Park (KNP) requires a territory of almost 3,ooo km2, as only ¼ of the valley bottom is suitable for prey, (Kootenay National Park of Canada, 2008). Wolves collared in KNP travel as far as 250 km outside of Park boundaries, (Kootenay National Park of Canada, 2008).
• Yoho National Park (YNP) has identified that in order for wolves to be present in the area, the park must work with private landowners, local citizens and recreationists, (Parks Canada, 2006), quintessentially, this will require the formation of buffer zones.
• Most packs that summer in protected areas winter at lower elevations in non-protected areas where the elk are, (Co-operation Called For To Save Wolves, 2003) 
• Although wolves require an adequate prey base, the defining factor in wolf persistence is protection from humans, (Regional Perspectives on Ecosystem Indicators and Issues. 2002).  Human use and access can be directly linked to wolf mortality rates and locations around the Parks, (Regional Perspectives on Ecosystem Indicators and Issues, 2002). Where prey abundance is low, human use becomes even more significant to adversely affect wolves.  BNP has also recognized that wolf numbers reflect the level of human-caused mortality, (Parks Canada, 2004).
• In 2002 the Central Rockies Wolf Project indicated that out of 12 packs, 9 needed protection beyond the National Parks if ecological integrity were to be maintained without wolves being introduced from other regions, (Regional Perspectives on Ecosystem Indicators and Issues, 2002). 
• For example, over a period of 4 years (winter 1999 to spring 2004), 13 adult wolves died within the boundaries of BNP, which greatly exceeds a sustainable rate of loss (Banff National Park of Canada, 2004).
• Biologists have recommended that human-caused mortality of wolves must be minimized to manage the decline of wolves in the area, (Dalman, 2002).
• The National Parks have stated that in order to have wolves inside the park, we need healthy wolf populations and accessible habitat outside the park, (Parks Canada, 2004).  This will not be possible in the future unless we take steps now. 
• It has even been suggested that population restoration may be required (Dalman, 2002).  We can prevent this from being necessary. 

We wish to prevent a trophic cascade within our Parks by increasing the protected areas of C. lupus, (Hurd, et al. 2002), and (Ellis, 2002). 

These 7 National Parks (Banff, Yoho, Jasper, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Waterton) are currently reviewing their Park Management Strategies, and accepting input to help shape plan revisions (Parks Canada Newsletter, 2008).  This provides an excellent opportunity to enlarge protected areas for wolves whose territories extend beyond the boundaries of these parks.  Lets work together!   

Canada still has one of the healthiest wolf populations in the world.  On a global basis, this provides us with a unique and vital conservation opportunity.  Canada has a chance to do something no other country has done: deliberately to conserve healthy wild populations of different types of wolves on one of the last landscapes still capable of supporting such a conservation goal, (Hummel & Pettigrew, 1991). If we wait too long we will continue to lose biodiversity.

Wilderness tourism can mean long-term financial benefits for our country.  For example, wolves reintroduced to the Greater Yellowstone area benefits the U.S. Northern Rockies' economy to the tune of $35-million tourist dollars annually (Defenders of Wildlife, 2006).  By protecting large carnivores and intact ecosystems, we can attract millions of tourism dollars.  If we're not saving top predators, we're not saving true wilderness.  And if we are not saving true wilderness, we will not save top predators (Hummel & Pettigrew, 1991).

The World Wildlife Fund tells us history has shown that, if deliberate efforts are not made to conserve large carnivores, they are doomed, (Hummel & Pettigrew, 1991).  

Ask yourselves as Canadians; What has the rest of the world taught us about the fate of wolves?  Are we taking steps to ensure the same thing does not happen to our top predators?

We urge you to make this a priority in Canadian conservation.  We are seeking organizations to join us in a Nation-wide wolf coalition to ensure a future for wolves in Canada.  You can help by:

1. Passing along our petitions and sample letters directed to political representatives, or creating your own.
2. Joining the Coalition for Canadian Wolves to combine ideas, resources, databases, research, knowledge, and contacts.  From our website: http://www.northernlightswildlife.com/

KEY POINTS:

• The wolf population in many areas of Canada, like the Central Rocky Mountains, is one of the lowest densities of wolves in the world, and yet Canada supposedly has one of the highest populations left in the world
• Our protected areas are not big enough to maintain a healthy population of wolves
• The territory of wolf packs living in National Parks often extends OUTSIDE protected areas
• Human-caused mortality is the biggest threat to long-term health of wolf populations 

Martin Luther King points out that by remaining silent, we allow others to prevail.  Let us howl until the moon comes down, until we are heard!

Background information can be found at: www.northernlightswildlife.com/bufferzones

References

1. Hummel, M. & Pettigrew, S.1991.  Wild Hunters %u2013 Predators In Peril.  Key Porter Books Ltd.  
2. Hurd, T. White, C., Pengelly, I., & Pacas, C. 2002.  Humans, Wolves, Elk, Aspen and Willow (HWEAW) Research Overview.  From Proceedings of Humans, Wolves, Elk, Aspen and Willow, and Now Beetles (HWEAW B) Science Workshop, Session 1: The Current Situation in the Banff Bow Valley.  Banff, Alberta.
3. Hebblewhite, M., Nietvelt, C., White, C., McKenzie, J. & Hurd, T. 2002.  Wolves As A Keystone Species in Montane Ecosystems of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Proceedings of Humans, Wolves, Elk, Aspen and Willow, and Now Beetles (HWEAW B) Science Workshop, Session 2:  Into The Future: Predation, Predation Risk, and Low Density Prey Populations.  Banff, Alberta.
4. Regional Perspectives on Ecosystem Indicators and Issues. 2002.  From Proceedings of Humans, Wolves, Elk, Aspen and Willow, and Now Beetles (HWEAW B) Science Workshop, Evening Session. Banff, Alberta.
5. Dalman, D., Shury, T., & White, C.  2002. Workshop Synthesis.  From Proceedings of Humans, Wolves, Elk, Aspen and Willow, and Now Beetles (HWEAW B) Science Workshop.  Banff, Alberta.
6. Ellis, C. 2002.  Parks Canada Asks Alberta to Help Protect Wolves.  Calgary Herald.  Calgary, Alberta.
7. Syme, I. 2003.  Chief Park Warden for Banff Field Unit, Parks Canada.  Alberta Wildlife Enhancement Society. http://www.wildlife-enhancement.ca/
8.  Co-operation Called For To Save Wolves. 2003.  Alberta Wildlife Enhancement Society. http://www.wildlife-enhancement.ca/
9. Kootenay National Park of Canada, Natural Wonders and Cultural Treasures. 2008.  Kootenay National Park Website. http://www.parcscanada.com/pn-np/bc/kootenay/natcul/natcul7_E.asp
10. Parks Canada %u2013 Yoho National Park of Canada %u2013 Natural Wonders %u2013 Wolf Research and Management. 2006.  www.pc.gc.ca.pn-np/bc/yoho/natcul20_E.asp
11. Parks Canada. 2004. Banff National Park of Canada. How Many Wolves are in Banff National Park? Banff Website
12. Defenders of Wildlife. 2006. Statistics. http://www.defenders.org/
13. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Northern Alberta.  2007 Parks Watch Report.
14. Environment Canada, 2006.  Canadian Protected Areas Status Report 2000 %u2013 2005.  Government of Canada, Gatineau, Quebec.
15. Natural Resources Canada, 2007.
16. Hebblewhite et al.2005. Human Activity Mediates a Trophic Cascade Caused By Wolves. Ecology 86 (8)
17. Banff National Park of Canada. 2004.HJD
18. Parks Canada Newsletter, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks of Canada, 2008.

Citations ref -http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite8.html

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