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Jokinen looking up slope
Biologist Mike Jokinen prepares for a long hike to retrieve some of the camera trap data. Photo: R. Anderson
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Wolverine
Wolverines are an icon of Canadian wilderness, perhaps more so than any other species. We’re working with the Alberta Trappers Association to help provide useful information for the long-term conservation of the species. Photo: M. Jokinen
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Goats on trail
The trails that lead to mineral licks may also represent sensitive habitat that needs to be protected in order to maintain the value of the lick. Photo: M. Jokinen
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Wolverine Identification
In a manner similar to the way that marine biologists use unique markings to identify individual killer whales, we’re using unique chest patterns on wolverines to identify individuals that pass by our cameras. Photo: M. Jokinen
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Mountain sheep at lick
Natural mineral licks are unique habitat features that are essential to the diet of deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. These and other species will use mineral licks to compensate for dietary deficiencies, typically during late spring and early summer. We’re monitoring use of this limited resource in relation to varying levels of disturbance. Photo: M. Jokinen
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Landscape
One of our first steps was to map disturbance levels across the study area, to identify the extent of remaining wild areas. Photo: R. Anderson
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Deer and fawns
Mineral licks may be used by generation after generation of a population, highlighting the importance of protecting them for long term conservation of the species. Photo: Alberta Conservation Association
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Lure
A variety of techniques are used to attract wolverines to our DNA and camera stations, including this horrible-smelling scent lure. Don’t let it get on your skin, or you’ll never be allowed in the house again! Photo: R. Anderson
Wildlife Habitat Initiative in Low
Disturbance Zones Project Overview
Monetary value is rarely applied to wild places and the ecological goods and services they provide us. Consequently, society must conscientiously work to safeguard their current and future status, perhaps even more so than we would any limited monetary or non-renewable resource.
However, Albertans cannot conserve what they either do not know is out there or cannot readily explain or identify to others. An important step in the conservation of wild places and wild species, therefore, is identifying their location and value and putting this into an easily understood form for scientists and resource managers, and also the urban public and interested stakeholders, who are ultimately capable of providing the most traction in influencing how we plan land use on public lands in the province.
The WHILDZ project will identify areas of important wildlife habitat with currently low levels of human disturbance in southwestern Alberta. The data collected through this project will be used for a broad suite of purposes; for example, local assessment of development proposals, planning habitat restoration and enhancement work, or feeding into large-scale planning exercises such as the provincial government’s Land-use Framework.