Den-site selection is a poorly understood aspect of wolf (Canis lupus) ecology, particularly for populations in forested ecosystems. Using a geographic information system and remote-sensing imagery, we examined patterns of habitat use around wolf dens in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Sixteen den sites were sampled for eight habitat types in their immediately vicinity, as well as at radii of 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 m. We used a resource-selection ratio to determine whether specific habitat types were preferred or avoided at different radii relative to the total proportion of habitat types found within the study area. Wolves established dens in areas with significantly high proportions of pine forest up to and including a 1000-m radius and low proportions of tolerant and intolerant hardwoods within 500 m. We conclude that wolves establish den sites based primarily on the presence of pine forest, a habitat that is frequently logged within Park boundaries and subject to problems with regeneration after cutting. Dens sites are likely not limiting in this population, but our results suggest the need to protect current den sites at a relatively large spatial scale. These results also provide unique information to assess the potential for recolonization and reintroduction of wolf populations in other areas.

We examined the spatial distribution and movements of migratory wolves (Canis lupus lycaon) to a deer yard located adjacent to Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, during 5 winters from 1990 to 1995. Wolves from eastern and central Algonquin Provincial Park followed the annual migration of deer to yards located 13 km outside of the Park boundary. Spatial distributions were determined through mapping of telemetry locations and nearest neighbour analysis. We defined three spacing systems: consistent/high fidelity, clustered/moderate fidelity, and transitional/low fidelity. We found inconsistencies among packs in their adherence to these systems. Data indicate that areas of use changed quickly and tolerance levels among wolves in the deer yard were very high; alien wolves were recorded 163 times in close spatial and (or) temporal proximity. The social behaviour exhibited by this migratory population of wolves has never been recorded in a forested wolf-deer ecosystem. Factors that may contribute to this behavioural plasticity include food abundance, a high degree of genetic relatedness among wolf packs, and high rates of human-caused mortality.Résumé : Nous avons étudié la répartition spatiale et les déplacements des loups migrateurs (Canis lupus lycaon) dans un gagnage de cerfs adjacent au parc provincial Algonquin, Ontario, durant les hivers 1990-1995. Les loups du centre et de l'est du parc Algonquin ont suivi la route de migration annuelle des cerfs jusqu'à des terres situées à 13 km en dehors des limites du parc. La répartition des loups a été déterminée par cartographie des lieux où les loups ont été repérés par télémétrie et par analyse des plus proches voisins. Nous avons défini trois systèmes spatiaux: présence persistante/fidélité élevée, présence en groupe/fidélité moyenne, présence passagère/fidélité faible. Nous avons repéré des exemples de non conformité à ces systèmes au sein des meutes. Les données indiquent que les zones utilisées changent rapidement et que le degré de tolérance est très élevé parmi les loups du parc de cerfs; des loups intrus ont été observés 163 fois à très grande proximité spatiale ou temporelle. Le comportement social de cette population migratrice de loups n'a jamais été observé auparavant dans l'écosystème forestier loups-cerfs. Parmi les facteurs potentiels de cette plasticité du comportement, il faut penser à l'abondance de nourriture, à un degré élevé de parenté génétique parmi les meutes et à une mortalité due aux humains particulièrement élevée.[Traduit par la Rédaction] Cook et al. 1750