|
Aren't
wolves violent and aggressive animals that humans should fear? |
|
Your
chances of encountering a wolf let alone catching a glimpse
of one are extremely rare. Wolves are elusive animals and tend
to shy away from people. There has only been one documented
case of healthy wild wolves killing a human in North America
and the evidence is showing that these wolves were likely habituated
to garbage and lost their fear of humans. Like most wildlife,
wolves respond to human activity. The risk of an attack has
more to do with how humans behave in wildlife habitat. Though
wolf attacks are extremely rare, hikers, campers and other nature
enthusiasts should act responsibly and tread lightly when entering
wolf country. |
|
What
role do wolves play in the ecosystem? |
|
As
predators, wolves play a significant role keeping prey populations
in check, ensuring that only the fittest survive. They also
keep herds of caribou and other ungulates on the move, thereby
protecting habitats from the harmful effects of over-grazing.
In addition, a wolf's catch provides food for many other animals
including ravens, eagles, wolverines and bears. |
|
Are
there any countries where wolves have become extinct? |
|
Wolves
are extinct in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary,
Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland and the Netherlands. They
also no longer exist in 95% of their former range in the lower
48 American states and are highly endangered in Mexico. The
World Conservation Union classifies wolves as vulnerable, meaning
that if current situations continue, the species will become
endangered in the future. |
|
Are
there any alternatives to the snare for trapping wolves? |
|
According
to the Fur Institute of Canada, in a publication made possible
by Environment Canada: "No effective quick-killing trap
has as yet been devised for the larger predators (wolves, coyotes,
lynx and foxes)." |
|
What
is the current wolf population in Canada? |
|
Because
of a lack of good data - estimates of wolf populations are only
rough at best. The estimates range between 50,000 and 60,000.
Noted wolf researcher, Dr. John Theberge, estimates that 14%
(approximately 8,000) of the Canadian population is killed each
year. |
|
Are
any wolf populations in Canada endangered, or have any gone
extinct? |
|
The
last wolves left Newfoundland in 1911 and Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick in 1970. Wolves were effectively forced out of the
prairies by the 1900's due to the extermination of the bison.
Also, the southern regions of Ontario and Quebec are no longer
inhabited by wolves due to the high concentration of human activity
in these areas. The Eastern Canadian wolf (Canis lycaon)
most common to central Ontario was added to the National Species
at Risk List by COSEWIC during the spring of 2001. It is classified
as a "Species of Special Concern". |
|
What
is the current wolf population in Ontario and how is it obtained? |
|
It
is estimated that there are between 8,000 and 10,000 wolves
in Ontario. However, no reliable survey method has been employed.
This estimate was obtained by survey responses filled out by
hunters and trappers and by extrapolating numbers from pelt
records. |
|
Isn't
wolf trapping regulated? |
|
Although
the Ontario government recently closed the wolf trapping season
from April 1st to September 14th, there are still no quota restrictions.
This means a licensed trapper can snare or trap as many wolves
as he or she likes all year round. Ontario farmers don't need
a license or a reason to kill unwanted predators. |
|
| Did You Know... |
|
|
| Wolves have disappeared from the Canadian prairies, the Maritime provinces and the southern regions of Ontario and Quebec due to wolf control programs, agricultural intensification, land clearing and other forms of human development.
When wolves hunt in packs they are capable of taking down large ungulates like moose, bison, elk and deer. However they only catch one animal for every ten that they chase.
Wolves can go for two weeks without food and then eat 20 lbs of meat at the first kill.
Learn More About Wolves 
|
|
|
|
