Research projects
Current research
SOUTH COAST WOLVERINES - CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
Objectives.
(1) Encourage the public to submit wolverine track and animal observations throughout BC’s South Coast Region, providing wildlife managers with information on wolverine occurrence.
(2) Identify explicit locations used by wolverine for denning, thereby providing the specific information needed to target access management and improve habitat where it is most effective for conservation.
Who. Andrea Kortello, Doris Hausleitner, Joanna Hirner, Bill Harrower
Location. South Coast (BC)
Duration. 2022 - 2023
EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND NATURAL PROCESSES ON WOLVERINE REPRODUCTION AND CONNECTIVITY
Objectives.
(1) Evaluate and compare effects of human activities on wolverine density and distribution, particularly breeding females, while accounting for variability in natural habitat characteristics.
(2) Estimate regional population connectivity and gene flow across natural and human features.
Who. Mirjam Barrueto, Marco Musiani, Aerin Jacob, Anne Forshner, Tony Clevenger
Location. Upper Columbia, North Thompson, Central Canadian Rockies (BC & AB)
Duration. 2017 to 2023
DENS AND DRONES
Objective.
(1) Identify explicit locations used by wolverine for denning, thereby providing the specific information needed to target access management and improve habitat where it is most effective for conservation.
Who. Doris Hausleitner, Andrea Kortello
Location. South Columbias (BC)
Duration. 2019 to 2023
WOLVERINE GENE FLOW AND METAPOPULATION STRUCTURE ACROSS WESTERN CANADA AND CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES
Objectives.
1) Characterize wolverine population structure and quantify sex-specific migration rates.
2) Identify landscape connectivity barriers and linkages among existing wolverine habitat.
3) Evaluate whether and where predicted environmental changes are likely to affect future wolverine movements.
Who. Michael Sawaya, Tony Clevenger, Erin Landguth, Robert Long (Principal Investigators)
Location. Western Canada, Contiguous US (BC, AB, WA, MT, ID, WY)
Duration. 2018 to ongoing
Past research
WOLVERINE OCCUPANCY IN THE SOUTH COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS
Objective.
1) Assess factors influencing the distribution of wolverine, including climate, food, trapping, and human disturbance, using bait stations and non-invasive genetic methods.
Who. Doris Hausleitner, Andrea Kortello, Garth Mowat
Location. South Columbia (BC)
Duration. 2012 to 2016
BANFF, YOHO, KOOTENAY WOLVERINES
Objectives.
1) Assess if the Trans-Canada Highway is a barrier to wolverine movements and population connectivity.
2) Estimate wolverine population abundance.
Who. Tony Clevenger, Mirjam Barrueto, Mike Sawaya, Parks Canada.
Location. Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks (BC, AB)
Duration. 2010 to 2014
THE WOLVERINE WAY - CANADIAN CROWN OF THE CONTINENT
Who. Tony Clevenger, Mirjam Barrueto, Mike Sawaya
Location. Canadian Crown of the Continent in the Southern Canadian Rocky Mountains (BC, AB)
Duration. 2014 to 2016
Objectives.
WOLVERINE OCCURRENCE AND BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS AT THE CANADIAN ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE MARGIN
Objectives.
(1) Model wolverine occurrence in relation to the biophysical and anthropogenic landscape factors that best predict distribution patterns.
(2) Examine intra-guild co-occurrence patterns influencing wolverine.
(3) Better understand the cumulative effects of landscape factors driving wolverine on the eastern edge of their current range boundary.
(4) Evaluate behavioral shifts with increasing human disturbance.
Who. Nikki Heim, Jason Fisher, John Paczkowski, John Volpe
Location. Kananaskis Country (AB)
Duration. 2010 to 2012