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Habitat, not predation, drives Caribou numbers, study finds

Ben Lamb

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http://kdlg.org/post/nushagak-penin...ntrol-caribou-population-study-finds#stream/0

Interesting article that popped up today.

“Logic can tell you that the caribou population didn’t go up because wolf predation increased. Wolf predation increased because the caribou population went up. So this being the case, this is not a wolf-controlled system. This is a caribou-controlled system that wolves are taking advantage of,” Walsh concluded.

Put simply, more wolves focus their hunting efforts on the Nushagak Peninsula when caribou are readily available. Caribou numbers are responsible for how many wolves spend time on the peninsula. Wolves do not cause the caribou population to fluctuate.

ADF&G and the USFWS are still studying wolves in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. Their current study examines wolf and bear predation on moose.
 
Interesting? How is fake science propaganda "interesting?


Meanwhile in Canada....

An Experiment with Habitat, Caribou and Wolves.
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.



http://calgaryherald.com/pmn/news-pm...0-8d1b7542a0eb

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michipicoten_Island
 
Interesting? How is fake science propaganda "interesting?


Meanwhile in Canada....

An Experiment with Habitat, Caribou and Wolves.
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.



http://calgaryherald.com/pmn/news-pm...0-8d1b7542a0eb

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michipicoten_Island

I do agree with you that wolf management should be considered but a combination of factors are likely leading to the extirpation of Caribou on this island. The proximate (direct) cause to the Caribou decline may be wolves but the ultimate (indirect) cause may be the poor habitat leading to poor recruitment (yearling survival). Either way, wolf and habitat management may be ways to increase recruitment.
 
I do agree with you that wolf management should be considered but a combination of factors are likely leading to the extirpation of Caribou on this island. The proximate (direct) cause to the Caribou decline may be wolves but the ultimate (indirect) cause may be the poor habitat leading to poor recruitment (yearling survival). Either way, wolf and habitat management may be ways to increase recruitment.


No, this situation was closely examined, it was very clear that predation and not habitat was the direct driver to extirpation.

The caribou showed no negative destiny dependant effects. Population decreases were solely due to predation.

One of the great "discoveries" here was "official" learning that scientists really do not know what constitutes good caribou habitat.
Scientific conclusions on the importance of "Old Growth" and lichens is being revisited.


Let's think about this. Caribou have successfully occupied the entire norther half of North America from coast to coast to coast.

As a species, they are Not so fragile that a minute habitat change will spell their doom.

Throughout time predators have wiped out prey species, typically in a relatively small area, occasionally to extinction. It is Not unnatural for wolves to do so as well.
 

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