Wolves are found throughout much of Ontario, in an

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1 WOLVES IN ONTARIO Ontario is working to help ensure the conservation of the province s wolf population and the habitat on which they depend. Wolves are found throughout much of Ontario, in an area extending roughly from the southern boundary of the Canadian Shield northwards to the Hudson Bay lowlands (Figure 1). There are two species of wolf in Ontario: the gray wolf found in the boreal and tundra regions of the province, and the eastern wolf found in the coniferous and mixed coniferous-hardwood forests of central and northern Ontario. Coyotes, a close cousin to the wolf, co-exist well with humans and are common in the developed and agricultural areas of southern and northern Ontario. Where the ranges of eastern wolves and coyotes overlap, interbreeding makes it difficult to distinguish between eastern wolves and coyotes and they can easily be confused. This report provides information about the current status of wolves in Ontario, the factors affecting them, and the actions Ontario is taking to help ensure the long-term health of wolf populations. PACKS AND REPRODUCTION Generally, wolves live in pack sizes ranging from two to nine wolves, although the largest pack documented in Ontario numbered 19 wolves. The territory size of a pack depends on the availability of prey within that area. In Ontario, territory sizes have been documented to range from 100 to 1,100 square kilometres. Typically, female wolves breed for the first time at roughly two years of age and males at around two to three years of age. Usually, only the dominant female and male in each pack breed. Breeding season extends from late January to March, and peaks during mid to late February. Roughly 63 days after mating, the female gives birth to three to eight pups, usually during mid to late April. The Figure 1. Range of wolves in Ontario (shaded). pups are born in den sites consisting of holes in the ground, rock caves, hollow logs, or beaver lodges. Depending on food availability, 40 to 70 per cent of pups survive their first year. Most wolves eventually leave the pack they were born into in search of opportunities to form their own pack or to join another. The age at which they leave ranges from five months to five years, depending on the availability of prey and breeding opportunities.

2 WOLVES HELP TO SHAPE ECOSYSTEMS The role of wolves in the ecosystem is complex and not yet fully understood. Their presence in Ontario s forests indicates a well-functioning, healthy landscape that supports biodiversity. Wolves are predators of mammals, particularly white-tailed deer, moose, woodland caribou, elk and beaver. The recognized role of wolves includes: helping maintain a balance of prey populations through predation on sick or weak animals as well as healthy animals stimulating reproduction in prey populations, and providing food for scavengers. The Backgrounder on Wolf Conservation in Ontario provides more information about wolf ecology in Ontario ( er.pdf). WOLVES PROVIDE ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL BENEFITS Through eco-tourism, wolf hunting and trapping, wildlife photography, etc., wolves generate economic opportunities and provide social and cultural benefits to the people of Ontario. Annual pelt revenue varies from year to year depending on demand and pelt quality. In 2005/2006, Ontario s gross revenue, based on the average price of wolf pelts, was roughly $20,000. Additional revenue is generated from direct and indirect economic effects of harvest and from the retail of manufactured fur products. Wolves are often depicted in literature, media and art in Ontario and many citizens have come to value wolves as a cultural symbol of the province s natural landscape. Wolves are also culturally significant for many Aboriginal groups in Ontario. In Aboriginal culture, wolves represent loyalty, co-operation, love and care for the family and community, and their pelts are often used in the preparation of Aboriginal ceremonial dress. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF WOLVES IN ONTARIO? Determining the number of wolves is a challenge for wildlife biologists. Wolves have a secretive nature, generally avoid human contact and are normally present in low densities (number of wolves in an area). Wolf densities vary across Ontario based on available prey, habitat and other factors. The tundra regions of Ontario have 0.2 wolf per 100 square km compared to central Ontario with 1 wolf per 100 square km, with the highest known density of 3 wolves per 100 square km in Algonquin Provincial Park. Biologists currently estimate the number of wolves in Ontario to be over 8,000. This estimate was determined by looking at the availability of key prey species across Ontario and the number of wolves in other areas of North America with similar prey and landscape features to Ontario. Surveys now under way will help provide a more reliable estimate of the population size of Ontario s wolves. The long-term outlook for wolves in Ontario is good, based on the vast areas of suitable habitat across Ontario, the availability of prey and current conservation practices. 2

3 WHAT SHAPES ONTARIO S WOLF POPULATIONS? Factors that influence the number of wolves in Ontario include hunting and trapping, habitat, development, disease and competition with other wolves. Hunting: Through mandatory reporting that was implemented in the last half of 2005, hunters will help provide wildlife biologists with more accurate wolf harvest information over the long term. Trapping: The number of wolves harvested by trappers fluctuates each year (Figure 2). In the 2005/2006 trapping season, trappers reported 396 wolves harvested. Habitat availability: Wolf populations increase and decrease in response to changes in their habitat. Loss of habitat to human settlement and agriculture may cause local declines in wolves populations, while agriculture and new forest growth after fires and forest harvesting can allow prey populations to grow providing an increased food supply for wolves. Disease: Diseases that naturally occur in the wild such as canine distemper and canine parvovirus, and parasites such as sarcoptic mites (which cause mange), may result in local declines in wolf populations. Figure 2: Number of wolves harvested by trappers per year since 1990/1991. Competition with other wolves: Fighting between wolves can cause serious or even fatal injuries, and generally occurs in order to: protect a territory or pack from the intrusion of other wolves maintain or achieve dominance within a particular pack (and therefore reproductive status) gain or protect access to a prey carcass, particularly when prey availability within the territory is low. WHAT IS ONTARIO DOING TO HELP CONSERVE WOLF POPULATIONS? Historic approach Many early European settlers in North America viewed the wolf as a threat to public safety, as competitors for large game species (such as deer and moose) and as predators of domestic livestock. To encourage wolf harvest, there were no restrictions on harvesting and the province paid a bounty on wolves from 1793 until After the bounty was revoked, wolf conservation fell under the Game and Fish Act (now the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act). The act provides the authority to regulate harvest through licences, seasons and limits. (continued over) 3

4 WHAT IS ONTARIO DOING TO HELP CONSERVE WOLF POPULATIONS? (CONT.) Current approach Ontario currently uses various techniques to help conserve wolf populations and the prey and habitat upon which wolves depend. Such methods include: Strategy for Wolf Conservation in Ontario: In 2005, Ontario announced the strategy for wolf conservation which outlines three key objectives: Ensure ecologically sustainable wolf populations Provide for social, cultural and economic benefits based on ecologically sustainable wolf populations Increase public awareness and understanding about the role of wolves in natural functioning ecosystems and the need for their conservation in Ontario. Initiatives under the strategy include: new wolf/coyote hunting regulations (effective in 2005) within the core range of Ontario s wolves (Figure 1). The regulations included: a closed season (a period during the year when wolf hunting/trapping is not permitted) the requirement of a wolf/coyote game seal to hunt (a seal is a special tag that is attached to the wolf/coyote as soon as the animal is killed) mandatory reporting of hunting effort, wolves harvested by hunters and wolves killed by landowners in protection of property (trappers have been required to report their harvests since the 1998/99 trapping season) research to better determine the distribution of the gray wolf, eastern wolf and coyote, and to better understand the interbreeding among these species assessment of wolf abundance using aerial surveys studies to improve our knowledge of the ecology of wolves in different habitats, and to better understand the impact of wolves on prey species such as moose evaluation of how protected areas influence wolf populations. The details of this initiative can be found in the Strategy for Wolf Conservation in Ontario. ( For further information on hunting regulations for wolves/coyotes, consult Ontario s Hunting Regulations Summary. ( unting) Management Strategy for the Wolves of Algonquin Provincial Park: A number of conservation actions were introduced in and around Algonquin Provincial Park in They included a research and monitoring program, and a prohibition on hunting and trapping of wolves in the townships around the park. ( Eastern Wolf Status Designation: The eastern wolf was added to the list of Species at Risk in Ontario with a status of special concern in 2004, encouraging better monitoring of their populations. Further details about Ontario s species at risk can be found on the Species at Risk website. ( Forest Management Planning: Forest management is governed by the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, which, under its regulated manuals, directs conservation of biodiversity through forest management guides. Please consult the Ministry of Natural Resources website for further information regarding forest management planning in Ontario ( and the forest management guides. ( /ontarioforests/guides.cfm) 4

5 WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP WITH WOLF CONSERVATION? The public can contribute to wolf conservation in Ontario by: respecting hunting and trapping regulations for both wolves and their prey (deer, moose, beaver) reporting hunting effort and hunting and trapping harvests reporting wolves that have been killed in the protection of property/livestock. RELATED INFORMATION INFORMATION SOURCES Backgrounder on Wolf Conservation in Ontario ( under.pdf) Strategy for Wolf Conservation in Ontario ( pdf) The Wolves of Algonquin Park ( report_opt.pdf) The Science Behind Algonquin s Animals (Friends of Algonquin Park): Eastern Wolf video and audio clips ( Ontario Hunting Regulations ( #hunting) MNR s Species at Risk website ( index.html) Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs predator control information ( p/predator.html) Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Wildlife Research and Development Section ( Hinterland s Who s Who website ( The information provided in this document is based on the Backgrounder for Wolf Conservation in Ontario, legislation, data provided by hunters and trappers and expert opinion. CONTACT INFORMATION For more information on the status of wolves in Ontario, please contact: State of Resources Reporting Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Section 300 Water Street, Peterborough ON K9J 8M /02/12 ISBN PDF sorr.mnr@ontario.ca Web: 5