Wolf and Lynx Detection Surveys in Northwestern Maine

McLaughlin, Craig; Jakubas, Walter

During 1999, the USFWS wi likely propose changing the status of gray wolves in the northeastern US from En angered to Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Canada Lynx is curreintly proposed to be listed as Threatened in 16 states, including Maine. These action are focusing national attention on the status of both species in Maine. Little information has been collected on the presence of wolves and lynx in the State. During the winter of 1999, MDIFW directed a field survey to detect the presence/absence of both wolves and lynx in northwestern Maine. The project was funded through a grant from the Outdoor Heritage Fund along with funds from the Maine Wolf Coalition and in-kind support from MDIFW and Project Timber Wolf. Observors on snowmobiles covored 1,296 kilometers of survey routes within 33 townships. They encountered dog-like tracks large enough to have been made by wolves on 2 occasions. One set of tracks was determined to belong to a domestic dog. On the second occasion, the tracks were made by 2 large animals that had killed a beaver. Attempts to photograph these animals with baited infra-red triggered cameras over a 30-day period were unsuccessful. Lynx tracks were encountered on 1 occasion. Efforts to detect both wolves and lynx in Maine should continue on an annual basis, at least until the proposed federal protection actions have been completed.