Research findings indicate that western Canada’s caribou populations, which have faced significant declines, are now exhibiting signs of recovery. However, the study emphasizes that this rebound is largely attributed to the culling of a substantial number of wolves. The researchers examined 40 caribou herds in British Columbia and Alberta to assess the effectiveness of various conservation measures. The study revealed that caribou populations have increased by approximately 52% since 2020 compared to what would have occurred in the absence of intervention.
While habitat restoration is considered the preferred solution for caribou conservation, it is a long-term process that can take decades to achieve. As a result, various stopgap measures have been implemented, including wolf sterilization, moose and deer population reduction, and the relocation of caribou from larger herds to smaller ones. However, the researchers found that wolf culling was the only intervention that consistently led to increased caribou population growth when applied independently. The combination of wolf culling with other measures such as maternal penning and supplemental feeding further enhanced the growth rate.
The findings present a difficult dilemma for wildlife managers, as killing wolves to protect another species raises ethical concerns. The authors acknowledge that shooting wolves is a contentious decision. In recent years, Alberta has culled hundreds of wolves, and some caribou ranges have been designated as protected areas. However, undisturbed caribou ranges continue to shrink due to forestry and energy industry activities. The researchers emphasize that until the trend of habitat loss is reversed, aggressive measures such as wolf culls will remain necessary to support caribou herds. They estimate that many years of continued intervention will be required.
