An Experimental Translocation of the Eastern Timber WolfWeise, Thomas F.
Science
An Experimental Translocation of the Eastern Timber Wolf
Weise, Thomas F.
Gray wolf -- Reintroduction -- Michigan
It could be expected that the translocated wolves would be more
vulnerable than wolves in their native environment. Although no data are
available from any previous study of translocated wild wolves, Harger's
(1970) investigation of displaced wild black bears showed that they were
more vulnerable. In our study, it was clear that during the Directional
Movement and Exploratory Phases Wolves No. 11, 12, and 13 were observed
by local residents an unusual number of times (Table 6). No. 10, which
did not explore such an extensive area and which spent considerable time
in a more remote area, was seen less (Table 5).
It is not clear why the wolves were not killed by humans during these
periods when they appeared so vulnerable. Perhaps the novelty of the
transplant coupled with the awareness that frequent aerial checks were
being made of the wolves had some effect. Furthermore, spring is not
generally a season of intensive hunting and trapping.
Whatever the explanation, the wolves did survive what seemed to be their
most vulnerable period. We do not believe that the deaths of the wolves
can be attributed to the conditions of their translocations. Instead, we
think that the most important factor in their demise was the
accessibility of the area to human beings and the attitudes of humans
towards wolves.
As indicated earlier, there appears to be an inverse relationship
between human density and wolf density in the Great Lakes Region (Table
1). Wolves are vulnerable to both accidental and deliberate mortality
from humans. For example, in winter 1947-48 at least 14 wolves were
struck by automobiles in northern Ontario (DeVos 1949). In Michigan, a
$15-$20 bounty still exists on coyotes, so these animals are commonly
shot and trapped. Because many people cannot distinguish wolves from
coyotes, and because wolves are often caught in the same kind of trap
sets made for coyotes, wolves might be killed accidentally.
Whether the killing of the translocated wolves was deliberate or
accidental is unknown except in the case of No. 11. No. 11 was caught
accidentally in a coyote trap, but was killed deliberately when the
trapper thought the animal might attack him. The best guess about No.
12, which was killed by a car, is that it was accidental. No. 10 and No.
13 were shot, but it is possible that the hunters in each case may have
mistaken them for coyotes. On the same day that No. 10 was killed, a
deer hunter shot a 76-lb. (34.5 kg) native Michigan wolf and turned
himself in to authorities, stating that he had thought it was a coyote,
and in March 1975 there was a similar occurrence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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