RECOMMENDATION
from the Aishihik Integrated Wildlife Management Planning Workshop concerning
WOLF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
To: Yukon Department of Renewable Resources
Regarding: Wolf Management in the Aishihik Planning Area
Issue:
In response to local concerns expressed in the early 1990’s about wildlife
in the Aishihik region, the Yukon Department of Renewable Resources determined
that both moose and caribou populations were depressed and the wolf population
was showing signs of distress. First Nation governments and hunters voluntarily
restricted their hunting of moose and caribou. Non-FN hunters were prohibited
from hunting through regulations. In combination with wolf control, these
measures allowed moose and caribou to recover in the area. Wolf numbers are
currently increasing in the area, numbering about 100 animals.
An ongoing management program is required to maintain the predator and prey
population levels at or near the targets established by the plan.
RECOMMENDATION to YDRR:
To provide sound direction to this component of the plan, the workshop examined
a variety of management options and likely outcomes from which it concluded
that:
- a limited harvest of moose that provided reasonable harvest opportunities
for all hunters could be sustained by the moose population as long as the
wolf population remained at approximately the 100 level
- apart from 2 bull caribou for ceremonial purposes, no caribou harvest
will be considered prior to the census in 2002
- harvest monitoring will be implemented for all hunters in the planning
area
- moose, caribou and wolf monitoring programs will be maintained to ensure
that as much relevant information as possible is available for monitoring
the status of these species in the planning area
- in the short term, non-lethal management of key wolf populations should
be maintained by the Yukon Department of Renewable Resources together with
focused field research to document the effectiveness of such a program
- in the longer term, a management system based on trapping will be introduced
by the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations with the intent of eventually
replacing the YDRR program once proven effective
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