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Industrial development alters wolf spatial distribution mediated by prey availability.

Hannah Boczulak¹, Nicole P Boucher¹, Andrew Ladle¹

¹School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada.

Ecology and Evolution

|July 3, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Wolves (Canis lupus) avoid industrial areas unless prey like elk or mule deer are present. This suggests wolves balance predation opportunities against human encounter risks in altered landscapes.

Keywords:

anthropogenic disturbance camera traps elk human activity mule deer predator–prey dynamics prey availability wolves

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Area of Science:

Wildlife ecology
Conservation biology
Landscape-use behavior

Background:

Human activities and resource extraction alter wildlife habitats and interspecific interactions.
Understanding predator spatial distribution is crucial for effective wildlife management in human-modified environments.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the impact of industrial features and human activity on wolf (Canis lupus) occurrence.
To investigate the influence of prey availability on wolf presence in disturbed landscapes.

Main Methods:

Utilized wildlife detection data from 122 remote camera traps in Alberta's Rocky Mountains.
Employed generalized linear models to analyze wolf occurrence in relation to land cover, industrial disturbance, human activity, and prey abundance.

Main Results:

Wolf occurrence was influenced by an interaction between industrial block features (well sites, cutblocks) and the availability of elk or mule deer.
Wolves were detected infrequently at sites with high industrial density, except when key prey species were abundant.
Human activity (motorized and non-motorized) did not strongly influence wolf occurrence.

Conclusions:

Wolves strategically use industrial areas for predation opportunities when prey are available, but generally avoid them due to potential human encounters.
Effective wolf management in human-altered landscapes necessitates considering both industrial footprint and populations of key prey species like elk and mule deer.