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Wolves
Distribution
Wolves were once distributed throughout Canada. They
are now extinct in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island,
Newfoundland, the settled and agricultural parts of Quebec, Ontario and the
western provinces. In the NWT, they are still found on most of
their traditional range. Although relatively abundant, their exact numbers are
unknown.
Densities are lowest on the arctic islands, and
highest in areas on the mainland where barren-ground caribou winter. The only
places where there is prey but no wolves are Coats and Southampton Islands in
Hudson Bay.
Red shaded area - High Arctic Wolves
Grey shaded area - Tundra Wolves
Blue shaded area - Boreal Wolves
Blue-Grey shaded area - Overlap
In the NWT three different groups of wolves can be distinguished based on behaviour and distribution. Wolves that live below the treeline or in the mountains, that depend mostly on non-migratory prey like
moose and bison, and maintain regular territories are commonly known as timber wolves. Wolves that live on the arctic islands, and prey mostly on caribou, muskox and arctic hare are called arctic wolves. Wolves that travel above and below the treeline on the mainland of the NWT, depend largely
on barren-ground caribou, and do not maintain regular territories are commonly known as tundra or caribou wolves. |
