Carnivores in the Southern Canadian Rockies: Core Areas and Connectivity Across the Crowsnest Highway
Apps CD, Weaver J, Paquet P, Bateman B, McLellan B. 2007. Carnivores in the Southern Canadian Rockies: Core Areas and Connectivity Across the Crowsnest Highway. WCS Canada Conservation Reports. Conservation Report No. 3. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
To address the problem of habitat and population fragmentation across the southern Canadian Rockies (Banff NP south to Glacier NP in Montana), we conducted modeling and field research during 2001-2004 to provide critical information pertaining to the viability, security, and connectivity of carnivore populations . Expanding human developments and activities, along the Crowsnest Highway but also throughout the region, pose a threat to maintaining the security and connectivity of habitats and populations across this landscape. In stage 1, we selected a suite of six carnivore species — grizzly bear, lynx, badger, bobcat, wolf, and wolverine — that represent a broad variety of ecological conditions. For each of these landscape species, we developed and applied regional models of distribution and vulnerability across the entire southern Canadian Rockies. In stage 2, we used hair-snaring and DNA analysis to sample the actual distribution of two species (grizzly bear and lynx) within a zone (10-20 km wide) that paralleled and included the Crowsnest Highway. We identified and mapped 15 core areas in the southern Canadian Rockies and rated them in terms of conservation significance and current level of relative security with consideration for grizzly bear, lynx and wolverine. We identified and mapped 11 landscape linkages and movement corridors relative to the Crowsnest Highway and rated them in terms of conservation significance and level of vulnerability.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Apps, Clayton; Weaver, John; Paquet, Paul; Bateman, Bryce; McLellan, Bruce
- Date of Issue
- 2007-09
- Publisher
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
- Units
- CRCO , GLAC
- Keywords
- carnivore, Crown of the Continent Ecosystem, Grizzly Bear, habitat connectivity, Habitat Fragmentation, Lynx, Mammal, Wolf, Wolverine