 Kootenay Wolverine Project,
1998 Progress Report by John Krebs, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program A five year project investigating demography and habitat use of a harvested population of wolverine is nearing completion. The 7,000 square kilometre study area in the Kootenay Region of British Columbia contains ten registered trap lines, two national parks, a major transportation corridor, two hydro-electric reservoirs, active logging areas and supports substantial recreational activity including helicopter skiing, snowmobiling and ski touring. Wolverine are considered "vulnerable" by the BC Ministry of Environment Wildlife Branch and consequently vital rate data are important for evaluating management options. A total of 39 (14 females and 25 males) adult and subadult wolverine have been captured over 3700 trap-nights using log box traps baited with road killed wildlife. Capture success varied by month and year with best results in February and March. Population estimates for the study area based on 4 years of live trapping data are 25.6 (95% CI: 15.6-55.3) and 24.0 (95% CI: 14.7-44.3) for 1996 and 1997 respectively. Five of the eight mortalities detected during the study to date have been human caused, three commercially trapped and a road kill and a rail kill, both occurring in Glacier National Park. Annual survival rate was estimated to be 0.79 (95% CI: 0.65 - 0.92) for all age and sex categories combined. Reproductive data are being gathered through radio-telemetry and follow up ground investigations of breeding females after den abandonment, as well as from trapper killed carcass submissions. In 1998, only one of the ten radio collared females produced young (litter of 2) that survived post den emergence. Two juvenile males (5.4, 5.8 kg) were captured and implanted with radio transmitters in June 1998 while accompanying their radio collared mother. Ground investigation of the natal den site confirmed it to be in the Engelmann spruce subalpine fir biogeoclimatic zone, similar to previous dens associated with large boulder talus and woody debris. Thus far, breeding females have been found only in roadless, undeveloped drainages. Habitat use data (>1200 locations) are being collected through bi-weekly telemetry flights and snow trailing during winter. Home ranges of males (x = 1005 km2) were significantly larger than females (x = 300 km2) and national park resident males (x = 543 km2) had smaller home ranges than non-park males (x = 1203 km2). Female home ranges did not differ significantly. At the study area scale, the distribution of wolverine use is highly clumped in four distinct  utilization peaks. The two largest utilization peaks occur within Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park, disproportionate to their land base within the study area. The remaining peaks are found in the upper Bigmouth - Windy Creek area and between Downie Creek and Goldstream River. Male wolverine appear to be able to cross large reservoirs and highways during lengthy dispersal movements (up to 200 km from point of capture). To our knowledge, no radio-collared females have crossed either reservoir, and only one female has crossed the Trans-Canada Highway. The focus for the remainder of the project is on the monitoring of existing females and kits, identification and characterisation of natal dens in spring 1999, and increasing the amount of snow trailing data. A population census using motion sensitive cameras will be conducted during March and April 1999. Final reports including management recommendations will be prepared over the next 24 months. Other partners in the project include Parks Canada, the BC Ministry of Forests, the BC Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks, and the BC Habitat Conservation Fund. [Back to Research Highlights] | 
