Vital signs monitoring of wolf (Canis Lupus) distribution and abundance in Denali National Park and Preserve, Central Alaska Network: 2013–2015 report
Borg BL, Goad EH, Klauder KJ. 2019. Vital signs monitoring of wolf (Canis Lupus) distribution and abundance in Denali National Park and Preserve, Central Alaska Network: 2013–2015 report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/DENA/NRDS—2019/1231. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
We monitored wolf packs in Denali National Park and Preserve from 2013 to 2015 in accordance with protocols established as part of the Central Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. From 2013 to 2015, we captured and radio-collared 36 wolves including 25 previously un-collared wolves and 11 re-collared wolves. We monitored 10 to 12 packs each season (spring and fall). The total numbers of wolves in monitored packs ranged from 49 in spring 2013 to 67 in fall 2013. Mean pack size varied from 4.3 (spring 2015) to 6.7 (fall 2013). A total of 21 collared wolves died from 2013 to 2015; 5 died from human harvest (24%), 16 died from natural causes including starvation and intraspecific strife (76%). The number of wolf pups that were recruited to all packs monitored within the study area ranged from 29 to 48. For packs that denned, an average of seven, four, and eight pups per pack were recruited into the population in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Borg, Bridget; Goad, Erica; Klauder, Kaija
- Date of Issue
- 2019-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- DENA , NRSS