Saskatchewan Boreal Wolf Project 2.56

Few animals in North America inspire the human imagination like the grey wolf (Canis lupus). To many, wolves are mysterious creatures, synonymous with remote and unknown places; places like Saskatchewan’s Northern Boreal Forest.
Little is known about the wolves inhabiting this vast region of Canada. Covering an approximate area of 410,000 km2, Saskatchewan’s Northern Boreal ecozone is a mosaic of deciduous and coniferous forest, Canadian Shield (which boasts some of the oldest exposed granite rock on earth), glacial lakes, and long meandering rivers. But perhaps the most unique feature of this ecozone is the lack of human disturbance: less than 5% of the area is affected by anthropogenic features. Indeed, Saskatchewan’s boreal forest may be one of the closest representations of pristine wolf habitat left on earth.

Project Goals:
The goal of the Saskatchewan Boreal Wolf Project (SBWP) is to study wolves living in an environment that has remained relatively unchanged since the ice age. Research is already underway. GPS data, as well as blood, hair and fecal samples from 26 GPS collared wolves will help researchers investigate fundamental questions about wolf population dynamics, density, habitat selection, movement patterns, diet and genetics in Saskatchewan’s boreal shield.
The project will also explore predator-prey relationship between wolves and boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) under the umbrella of its parent project, the Saskatchewan Boreal Shield Woodland Caribou Project (https://www.facebook.com/SaskWoodlandCaribouProject). Boreal woodland caribou are listed as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Studies in other parts of Canada have shown wolves as a major predator to caribou, but the extent to which wolves prey on caribou in northern Saskatchewan is unknown. Therefore, understanding wolf predation rates on caribou is vital to understanding caribou population dynamics.

Project Details:
To date, 26 wolves have been collared with Lotek© satellite collars that fix and record a GPS location every three hours. This data is then uploaded to the Lotek GPS Wireless WEB service allowing us to track our wolves in real time. Initial wolf capture was conducted by BigHorn Helicopters®, who, in compliance with guidelines set by the University of Saskatchewan the province of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Council for Animal Care, used nets instead of potentially harmful tranquilizers to capture the wolves. As part of the capture process, blood, hair and fecal samples were taken from each animal. (See video!)
The Saskatchewan Boreal Shield Woodland Caribou Project, and by extension the Saskatchewan Boreal Wolf Project, has been granted over $2-million in federal, provincial and third-party funding, as well as generous in-kind support. As this project could have a significant influence on development in northern Saskatchewan, we will be making every effort possible to engage the public in our research. Please check here regularly to stay caught up with the latest information on future events like community presentations, newest wolf location data, and other wolf related news! If you have any questions about this project, please contact us here, or the emails provided below.