Long Foraging Movement of a Denning Tundra Wolf

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Wolves (Canis lupus) on the Canadian barrens are intimately linked to migrating herds of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus). We deployed a Global Positioning System (GPS) radio collar on an adult female wolf to record her movements in response to changing caribou densities near her den during summer. This wolf and two other females were observed nursing a group of 11 pups. She traveled a minimum of 341 km during a 14-day excursion. The straight-line distance from the den to the farthest location was 103 km, and the overall minimum rate of travel was 3.1 km/h. The distance between the wolf and the radio-collared caribou decreased from 242 km one week before the excursion to 8 km four days into the excursion. We discuss several possible explanations for the long foraging bout.Key words: wolf, GPS tracking, movements, Canis lupus, foraging, caribou, Northwest Territories RÉSUMÉ. Les loups (Canis lupus) dans la toundra canadienne sont étroitement liés aux hardes de caribous des toundras (Rangifer tarandus). On a équipé une louve adulte d'un collier émetteur muni d'un système de positionnement mondial (GPS) afin d'enregistrer ses déplacements en réponse au changement de densité du caribou près de sa tanière durant l'été. On a observé cette louve ainsi que deux autres en train d'allaiter un groupe de 11 louveteaux. Elle a parcouru un minimum de 341 km durant une sortie de 14 jours. La distance en ligne droite de la tanière à l'endroit le plus éloigné était de 103 km, et la vitesse minimum durant tout le voyage était de 3,1 km/h. La distance entre la louve et le caribou muni du collier émetteur a diminué de 242 km une semaine avant la sortie à 8 km quatre jours après la sortie. On commente diverses explications possibles pour ce long épisode de recherche de nourriture.Mots clés: loup, repérage GPS, déplacements, Canis lupus, recherche de nourriture, caribou, Territoires du Nord-Ouest Traduit pour la revue Arctic par Nésida Loyer.

Denning ecology of barren-ground wolves in the central Canadian Arctic.

“…This proximity provides breeding wolves with consistent access to caribou following the period when spatial separation between den sites and the main distribution of the herd was the greatest. Previous research on the movement dynamics (timing, direction, and distance) o f Bathurst wolves reported extraterritorial movements away from dens sites only during a 3-week period in late June and early July (Walton et al 2001, Frame et al 2004). …”

“…Pups are bom between mid-May and early-June and remain within close proximity of the den until midSeptember when they are old enough to travel with the pack (Frame et al 2008). Adult wolves generally remain in close proximity to their pups from late-May to early-September (wolf denning period) leaving occasionally to hunt for prey (Williams 1990, Walton et al 2001, Frame et al 2004). As such, the behavior of tundra wolves is likely more territorial during the denning period (Walton et al 2001).…”

“…Prey availability may be low during that period of spatial separation (Heard and Williams 1992, Walton et al 2001, Frame et al 2004 (Fuller et al 2003); in the central Arctic, the distances from dens to caribou can influence their reproductive success (Frame et al 2008). Heard and Calef (1986) and Heard and Williams (1992) suggested that tundra wolf populations respond numerically to changing caribou densities.…”

“…Pups are bom between late May and early June (Frame et al 2008) and remain within close proximity o f the den until mid-September when they are old enough to travel long distances with the pack. As such, adult wolves remain in close proximity to their pups throughout the denning period, leaving only occasionally to hunt for prey (Williams 1990, Walton et al 2001, Frame et al 2004). …”

“…Most caribou migrate to their calving and post-calving ranges near the Arctic coast, while wolves typically den farther south, closer to treeline. Scattered groups of caribou may remain close to the denning area throughout the summer (Banfield 1954, Parker 1973, Miller and Broughton 1974, Darby 1978, Heard et al 1996, and some breeding wolves may seek prey through long-distance movements away from their dens (Walton et al 2001, Frame et al 2004). These wolves typically can travel 40-50 km outside of their denning range in search of caribou located to the north (Walton et al 2001, Frame et al 2004).…”