Multiscale Habitat Use by Wolverines in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

Wolverine (Gulo gulo) distribution in British Columbia, Canada, includes multiple-use lands where human use and resource extraction may influence habitat selection. We evaluated seasonal habitat use by resident adult wolverines using radiotelemetry locations from 2 multiple-use landscapes in British Columbia. Food, predation risk, and human disturbance hypotheses were considered in logistic regression analyses of used and random landscapes. Male wolverine habitat associations were most supported by the food hypothesis in both summer and winter. Moose (Alces alces) winter ranges, valley bottom forests, and avalanche terrain were positively associated with winter male wolverine use. Habitat use by male wolverines in winter was also negatively associated with helicopter skiing areas in the Columbia Mountains. Habitat associations of females were more complex; combinations of variables supporting food, predation risk, or human disturbance hypotheses were included in most supported models from both summer and winter in both study areas. Females were associated with alpine and avalanche environments where hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) and Columbia ground squirrel (Spermophilus columbianus) prey are found in summer. Roaded and recently logged areas were negatively associated with female wolverines in summer. In the Columbia Mountains, where winter recreation was widespread, females were negatively associated with helicopter and backcountry skiing. Moose winter ranges within rugged landscapes were positively associated with females during winter. Our analysis suggests wolverines were negatively responding to human disturbance within occupied habitat. The population consequences of these functional habitat relationships will require additional focused research. Our spatially explicit models can be used to support conservation planning for resource extraction and tourism industries operating in landscapes occupied by wolverines.

Does Grey Wolf Presence Affect Habitat Selection of Wolverines?

“…Preference for remote forest areas is consistent with results of previous studies on habitat selection and home-range use by wolverines (May et al 2006, Krebs et al 2007) and wolves (Theuerkauf et al 2003, Kaartinen et al 2010. Human activities have expanded leaving less living space for wolverines, which may be sensitive to human disturbance and also to habitat fragmentation (Carroll et al 2001, Rowland et al 2003.…”

“…These alternative hypotheses are then ranked according to their parsimony (Johnson & Omland 2004, Rushton et al 2004, Greaves et al 2006, Klar et al 2008. We designed a set of 128 candidate models of the occurrence of wolverines and wolves based on the following general hypotheses: (1) wolverines seek areas in proximity to wolves (May et al 2008, van Dijk et al 2008a, 2008b; and (2) wolverines and wolves avoid settlements where human presence is continuous (May et al 2006, Krebs et al 2007, Kaartinen et al 2010.…”

“…The wolverine is often viewed as being a high alpine dweller for which anthropogenic factors, probably due to persecution (Persson et al 2009), are more important in the selection of the home range than habitat factors (May et al 2006). Wolverine habitat selection is negatively affected by human activity, including roads and backcountry recreation (Caroll et al 2001, Rowland et al 2003, May et al 2006, Krebs et al 2007. Factors such as the density of prey and landscapes where they can find a suitable denning habitat are also important (Landa et al 2000, 2012.…”

Wolverine, <em>Gulo gulo</em>, Home Range Size and Denning Habitat in Lowland Boreal Forest in Ontario

“…For six of our study animals, the 95% MCP HR based on VHF locations only were within the limits for VHF-derived home range estimates reported by other researchers, regardless of how home range size was calculated (see: Mulders 2000*; Krebs et al 2007;Persson et al 2009). For all of our study animals, home range estimates (HR A ) based on a combination of VHF and Argos locations indicate that home range sizes for Wolverines in lowland boreal forest in Ontario are similar to those in other habitat types.…”

“…For example, there have been no radio-telemetry studies of this elusive species in Canada east of the Yukon (Banci 1987) and British Columbia (Krebs et al 2007) with the exception of one study in the central Arctic north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (Mulders 2000*). To date, all radio-telemetry studies of Wolverine have taken place in habitats characterized by mountains or tundra (Hornocker and Hash 1981;Gardner 1985;Magoun 1985;Whitman et al 1986;Banci 1987;Copeland 1996; Mulders 2000*; Krebs et al 2007;Persson et al 2009). Dens typically consist of extensive snow tunnels in drifted snow or under boulders, avalanche debris, or windblown trees covered by snow (Magoun and Copeland 1998), which may not occur in lowland boreal forests.…”