Understanding landscape and human effects on wolverine abundance, distribution and connectivity in the Canadian Crown of the Continent (CCoC) ecosystem
Dates
Acquisition
2016
Summary
The Canadian Crown of the Continent (CCoC) is one of three zones where wolverines can move between Canada and the US, providing the last links for recruitment and ultimately gene flow to the highly fragmented population in the US Rocky Mountains. But a combination of rapidly expanding logging, energy development and motorized recreation, along with a growing road network, threatens to fragment and diminish connections in this critical transboundary linkage between the US and Canada. The province of Alberta recently created two parks in the CCoC expanding protection in the Castle Wilderness north of Waterton Lakes National Park and along the British Columbia (BC)- Alberta border. The western boundary of the Castle is the biologically [...]
Summary
The Canadian Crown of the Continent (CCoC) is one of three zones where wolverines can move
between Canada and the US, providing the last links for recruitment and ultimately gene flow to
the highly fragmented population in the US Rocky Mountains. But a combination of rapidly
expanding logging, energy development and motorized recreation, along with a growing road
network, threatens to fragment and diminish connections in this critical transboundary linkage
between the US and Canada.
The province of Alberta recently created two parks in the CCoC expanding protection in the
Castle Wilderness north of Waterton Lakes National Park and along the British Columbia (BC)-
Alberta border. The western boundary of the Castle is the biologically rich Flathead Valley of
BC. The Castle expansion highlighted the need to manage the Flathead to maintain viable
wolverine populations and the corridors that keep them connected. However there is limited
baseline data on wolverine density, distribution, or gene flow, or the effects of trap-related
harvest on their long-term population viability to inform decision-making aimed at conserving
wolverines in this area.
Cascadia Partner Forum; Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University; British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource
Operations
