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(6/6) Why should you care? The local extinction of wolverines can have profound consequences on the Alberta Wilderness. Wolverines have an essential ecological role, and their loss will completely alter the Rocky Mountain ecosystem[2]
Write to the Forestry Minister: fp.minister@gov.ab.ca.
#wildlife

(5/6) Camera traps, scent marking and surveying are among alternative, non-invasive data collection methods that have found success in the past[7]. A controlled and low-risk program is both necessary and feasible to understand the distribution of this species[2]. Open trapping is not the answer.

(4/6) Already, wolverine trapping results in 8.4% mortalities/year[5]. Wolverine density is 3x higher in protected areas, highlighting that protection is essential for this sensitive species[7]. Trapping should not impact a populations persistence and welfare, for wolverines, it will [3, 4].

(3/6) There are ~955 wolverines in Alberta [2]. Already threatened by caribou decline, habitat and snow loss, wolverines have a low reproductive rate, producing ~one female/mother/year[5, 6]. Wolverines will not be able to replace themselves at the same speed they will be lost due to open trapping.

(2/6) Trapping for data collection has worked before, with trappers and scientists working in tandem[3]. Yet, these populations were large with high reproductive rates. In fact, species with similar demography to wolverines have gone locally extinct from trapping, like fishers in B.C.[4].

(4/5) Already, wolverine trapping results in 8.4% mortalities/year[5]. Wolverine density is 3x higher in protected areas, highlighting that protection is essential for this sensitive species[7]. Trapping should not impact a populations persistence and welfare, for wolverines, it will [3, 4].

(3/5) There are ~955 wolverines in Alberta [2]. Already threatened by caribou decline, habitat and snow loss, wolverines have a low reproductive rate, producing ~one female/mother/year[5, 6]. Wolverines will not be able to replace themselves at the same speed they will be lost due to open trapping.

(2/5) Trapping for data collection has worked before, with trappers and scientists working in tandem[3]. Yet, these populations were large with high reproductive rates. In fact, species with similar demography to wolverines have gone locally extinct from trapping, like fishers in B.C.[4].

(5/5) Camera traps, scent marking and surveying are among alternative, non-invasive data collection methods that have found success in the past[7]. A controlled and low-risk program is both necessary and feasible to understand the distribution of this species[2]. Open trapping is not the answer.

(4/5) Already, wolverine trapping results in 8.4% mortalities/year[5]. Wolverine density is 3x higher in protected areas, highlighting that protection is essential for this sensitive species[7]. Trapping should not impact a populations persistence and welfare, for wolverines, it will [3, 4].

(3/5) There are ~955 wolverines in Alberta[2]. Already threatened by caribou decline, habitat and snow loss, wolverines have a low reproductive rate, producing ~one female/mother/year[5,6]. Wolverines will not be able to replace themselves at the same speed they will be lost due to open trapping.

(2/5) Trapping for data collection has worked before, with trappers and scientists working in tandem[3]. Yet, these populations were large with high reproductive rates. In fact, species with similar demography to wolverines have gone locally extinct from trapping, e.g. fishers in B.C. [4].