Research

Info Update

Elk and Wolf Stats

According to the biologist from Banff National Park, there are 30 to 40 wolves in the park and a total number of 40 to 60 wolves in the park and surrounding area.

According to the Central Rockies Wolf Project at the Alberta Wilderness Association meeting in Calgary in February 2002 there are 49 wolves in the park and then at the AWA meeting in Edmonton three weeks later they said there were 70 wolves in these areas.

In the Integrated Resource Plan Book for the Nordegg-Red Deer River Area which covers WMU's318,326,416,417,418,420,422,426,428,429,430,432 and 434 Alberta Fish and Wildlife wants Populations of 5375 Elk, 3950 Moose and 69 Wolves.

*RMA*	*Elk*	*Wolves*	*Moose*
Red Deer Panther	1000	5	50
Red Deer Wilson	300	5	300
Red Deer Raven	200	None	800
Clearwater Tay	150	None	375
Ram Clearwater	1500	10	1000
Headwaters Forbidden Skeleton	800	10	225
White Rabbit	120	8	100
Kootney Plains	80	2	20
Cline River	50	5	100
Bighorn River	150	14	300
Nordegg	400	2	300
Blackstone Wapiabi	250	2	100
Brown Creek	375	6	280
Totals	5375	69	3950

Elk Population Goals as set by Eldon Brunz Alberta Fish and Wildlife Biologist Rocky Mountain House

*WMU*	*Preseason Population Goal*	*Preseason Population Estimate 2001*	*Preseason Population Estimate 2002*
318	175	325	325
326	200	125	125
416	300	270	75
417	300	150	100
418	1080	1083	1083
420	1170	680	280
422	720	400	175
426	300	150	150
428	100	100	25
429	300	315	200
430	530	320	150
432	300	100	50
434	625	175	100
TOTAL	6100	4193	2838

According to Alberta Fish and Wildlife. Population estimates in the WMU's in red were reduced for 2002 due to lower populations reported by the public and found on aerial surveys. Predation is suspected to be the main cause of the reduced numbers.

We want 6100 Elk as a population goal and in 2001 we only had and estimated 4193 Elk. This represents a decrease of 1907 Elk . In 2002 we only have an estimated 2838 Elk. This represents a decrease of another 1355 Elk . In two years we dropped 3262 Elk from the population goal.

So as you can see from the Integrated Resource Plan we have the population of Wolves that Fish and Wildlife wants , assuming that we know of all the Wolves!! But the Elk are down dramatically. Hunter success numbers are also down in all of these areas as well. Fish and Wildlife are even dropping the amount of tags in most areas due to the decreasing Elk population.

This chart reflects the actual numbers of elk from aerial surveys done in the past two years in these three WMU's. These were the only WMU's included in the aerial surveys. As you can see the numbers are a long way off the population goals set by Alberta Fish and Wildlife.

Aerial surveys of elk done in the last three winters

WMU’S	Preseason Population Goals	Banff Parks Canada aerial survey (March 2002)	Alberta Fish & Wildlife aerial survey (February 2003)	Alberta Fish &Wildlife aerial survey (February 2004)
416	300	77	47	47
418	1080	975	900	901
420	1170	162	137	165
Totals	2550	1214	1084	1113

We are short 1437 elk from the population goals in these three WMU's alone!

What is happening in the elk herd?

Why is the herd not increasing?

Bull to Cow ratio is at a drastic all time low!

There has been low hunter harvest!

Hunting tags have been reduced!

Moderate winters!

Still the elk herd is not increasing!

Go To the Ya Ha Tinda Elk and Wolf Project Webpage

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