Wolverine populations affected by recreation, roads: study

Calgary, AB – Wildlife researchers have found that both recreation and roads affect wolverine populations in Canada's Rocky Mountains and Columbia Mountains.

It’s believed to be the first time that a study has shown, at a landscape scale, that recreation is linked to lower population density in a carnivore.

The study, led by Dr. Mirjam Barrueto as part of her PhD research in the Faculty of Science at UCalgary, was published on Sept. 29 in Biological Conservation, a peer-reviewed international journal in conservation and environmental science. Co-authors include her UCalgary supervisor, Dr. Marco Musiani, as well as scientists from Parks Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Montana State University.

“We wanted to figure out how the population is doing and what kind of impacts there are ... We found there were very few wolverines in the Upper Columbia region” in southeastern British Columbia.

Dr. Mirjam Barrueto, PhD, lead author, University of Calgary

The paper, which covers one of the largest areas examined for wolverines, shows that there are fewer than 300 wolverines across 81,800 square kilometres in western Alberta and eastern B.C.

The research shows the population could be about 30 per cent higher without the current recreation and road levels.

“Our findings are stark. But what gives me hope is that they’re specific enough to act on, locally and across landscapes, because that’s what it’s going to take to keep wolverines here.”

Co-author Dr. Aerin Jacob, PhD, Director of Science and Research and Weston Family Senior Scientist, Nature Conservancy of Canada 

The researchers make five recommendations that include maintaining roadless and low road density areas; protecting low-disturbance, high-quality wolverine habitat; and, limiting recreation in reproductive areas. 

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Colette Derworiz
Lead, Media & Communications
403-815-1556
colette.derworiz@ucalgary.ca