Wolves vs Caribou

[MountainTi]

Old article I found on my computer.....




Do Woodland Caribou need old growth and lichen to thrive, even survive?

Will wolves exterminate Caribou if given the chance, in opposition to this so called "Balance in Nature" concept?


An isolated Island in Ontario offered researchers an opportunity to learn.

See how fast things happen....

1982 - Eight caribou are translocated from Slate Island to Michipicoten Island, a 71 square mile Provincial Park. No wolves present, No hunting allowed.

2011 - Caribou herd is estimated at 680.
- Noteworthy is the Island is not considered prime caribou habitat, no lichen.
Caribou thrived without this food source, considered Critical by some.

2012- Four wolves found on Island, believed to have crossed to the Island by ice during an unusual cold spell.

2017 - Wolf pack has grown to 18.

2017 - Caribou herd has been reduced to 30!
A 95% reduction in just Four years....

With the experiment at and end due to an inevitable extirpation of the remaining 'Bou, government officials are preparing to translocate the remaining caribou off Michipicoten and back to Slate.... social licence has removed the option to kill the wolves...


Lessons learned.

Woodland Caribou DO NOT need old growth as a food source for survival.
One pack of wolves wiped out a herd of 700 caribou in just Four years!

The government will choose to translocate endangered Caribou rather than kill a few wolves.


https://calgaryherald.com/pmn/news-p...0-8d1b7542a0eb

[NCC]

I completely agree with you.

If the wolves are killing all of the caribou because of human intrusion, then it should be up to humans to control the wolves.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by NCC

I completely agree with you.

If the wolves are killing all of the caribou because of human intrusion, then it should be up to humans to control the wolves.

Absolutely not, what we really need to do is intentionally thin out the moose population in an effort to reduce wolf numbers... which will definitely/ possibly/ maybe bring back a species thats been in decline for half a century.

Trust me, I've got a degree and a government job.

[shawn]

Interesting. I wonder if the wolves have another food source on the island or do they plan to just let them starve to death? Seems to me the easiest and most humane thing to do is to shoot the wolves.

[3blade]

Social license, best available science at the time, equity…when you hear those, you prepare your nose for the smell of BS.

Whoever invented those terms term needs to be put on the island with the wolves, and a like fate for any government official who uses it to justify stupidity in wildlife management.

[glen moa]

Didn’t they pay a huge amount to helicopter the caribou off the island?

I guess I should say we pay.

[Big Grey Wolf]

"You can either have wolves, or you can have caribou, but you cannot have both"

[NCC]

Originally Posted by shawn

Interesting. I wonder if the wolves have another food source on the island or do they plan to just let them starve to death? Seems to me the easiest and most humane thing to do is to shoot the wolves.

Good question. I'll be very surprised if they let the wolves die or suffer. Whatever action the government takes, I hope it is very public.

[glen moa]

I guess they will have to helicopter the wolves off the island now.