Develop wolf management program and implement as a pilot project

In the spirit of integrated management, wildlife species are not treated in isolation but as part of complex ecosystems. Major factors that impact the functioning of this ecosystem are human harvest, disturbance or harassment, and habitat loss. It is important to recognize that humans make use of local wildlife populations and that they do compete with predators for the same. Where humans and predators compete for species such as moose and caribou, some measures are required to readjust the distribution of ungulate mortality between natural predation and human harvest.

It was agreed that maintaining the FCH population at about 4000 animals was preferable to allowing the herd to find its own balance with the other wildlife populations on its range. Presently, the level of harvest that the caribou population could safely provide will not 'sustain' current human harvest needs. It should also be acknowledged that if long term habitat quality demonstrates signs of deterioration, the population target will need to be re-assessed.

The question then becomes, "Can an FCH population of 4000 be maintained according to the principles of Conservation, Wise Management, and Cooperation adopted for the plan?" At the outset, it was agreed that grizzlies could not become part of the equation because this species is too vulnerable to manipulate.

It should also be recognized that wolves influence moose populations in a manner similar to caribou. While it is more difficult to assess the impacts of wolves on moose, it can be assumed that the pattern observed for caribou could also be the case for moose.

It was acknowledged that wolves would not be endangered in a planned program of population management due to their high reproductive rate. Many solutions were subsequently discussed including; trapper incentives, denning, fertility control, and guaranteed price for pelts. However, none of the preceding options met the criteria of the plan and the final solution was to develop a wolf management program with the following principles and components:

Principles:

1. Acknowledge that wolves and humans are competing as predators of moose and caribou on the Finlayson range.
2. At the present levels of 260 wolves and 4000 caribou, an annual harvest of about 130 caribou is over the maximum safe harvest for the population.
3. To provide a margin of safety in caribou numbers, wolf numbers should be maintained at a lower level in key calving areas on the FCH range.
4. The program should be developed by a broad based group including, Ross River residents, Yukon Conservation Society, YDRR, and Yukon Trappers Association
5. The program must adhere to the principles and guidelines set forth in the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan
6. Only specific packs that contain principle calving areas in their territories will be targeted
7. Techniques for the program will be based on the Alaskan system of snaring and the traditional practice of denning.
8. Program is supported by biennial wolf counts, annual moose/ caribou calf ratios, on-the-land reporting and 1999/2000 FCH census.

Components/schedule:
June - mid September 1997

1. RRDC and the community must determine which trappers will be involved
2. A 2-3 day planning session must be held this summer and include, YTG, Yukon Conservation Society, RRDC, Yukon Trappers Association and Yukon Outfitters Association. Discussions will include scheduling of training sessions, funding, pelt marketing, trapping schedule, denning schedule.
3. Consultation with the community on traditional knowledge about wolf management should be done prior to the planning session.
4. A meeting must be scheduled for mid to late September to be attended by RRDC, Yukon Conservation Society, Yukon Trappers Association, YDRR and trappers

1. meeting to set trapper training schedule and logistics

1. training of trappers

1. Trapping pilot project initiated. Concentrate on a few key packs in the Finlayson range.

1. Denning project if approved at summer and fall meetings