No abstract

Telemetry, sightings, and tracks in snow from 1978–81, with subsequent observations until 1991, showed that woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) did not use cut portions of traditional wintering areas for 12 years after cutting. Two attempts by management personnel to modify commercial cutting patterns for caribou failed to prevent abandoning cut areas. In four instances where entire wintering areas were cut, caribou sightings and tracks decreased drastically or ceased entirely. Caribou in unlogged areas have shown no similar declines. Minimal efforts to ensure caribou survival in commercial forests should include deferral of cutting in caribou wintering areas, protection of calving areas, and accelerated research. Keywords: woodland caribou, forest management, threatened population, wildlife conservation

This paper explores mechanisms of coexistence for woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and moose (Akes alcei) preyed upon by gray wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Ontario. Autocorrelation analysis of winter track locations showed habitat partitioning by caribou and moose. Numbers of Delaunay link edges for moose-wolves did not differ significantly from what would be expected by random process, but those for caribou-wolves were significantly fewer. Thus, habitat partitioning provided implicit refuges that put greater distances between caribou and wolves, presumably decreasing prédation on the caribou. Yet, direct competition cannot be ruled out; both apparent and direct competition may be involved in real-life situations. A synthesis including both explanations fits ecological theory, as well as current understanding about caribou ecology.