MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, May 18, 1999
Canmore, Alberta

THREE YEARS AFTER BOW VALLEY STUDY, WOLVES IN BOW VALLEY BARELY HANGING ON

Three years following completion of the Bow Valley Study, an extensive study that examined effects of human activity in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park, the situation is only getting worse. The Bow Valley wolf pack, Banff's best-known pack, is facing extermination. The breeding female of the Bow Valley pack was struck by a Canadian Pacific train in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park on April 18th. "The recent death of the pack's breeding female brings the pack one step closer to total collapse," said Carolyn Callaghan, co-director of the Central Rockies Wolf Project. "The breeding pair had established a den site, and the female was within a few weeks of giving birth to this year's litter."

A park visitor saw the wolf dragging its hind legs along the shore of the Bow River on April 18th. The park's Warden Service investigated the report, and found a blood trail but no wolf. It is suspected that the wolf fell into the Bow River and was swept downstream. On May 11, the body of the wolf was retrieved downstream of the reported sighting. The wolf sustained a broken back and a severed foot. "The dead wolf's mate waited for her return to the den for almost two weeks before leaving the area. Now there is nothing to tie him to the Bow Valley - no mate, and no pups to care for," said Callaghan. "This pack has not had a surviving pup since 1995."

Wolf numbers in the Bow Valley have declined from an all-time high of twenty-five in 1991 to two members at present. Humans are the primary cause of death for wolves in the Bow Valley. "We have recorded 32 wolf deaths in the Bow Valley since 1987, including the d eaths of 5 breeding females.
Highways and railways combined have been the cause of 81% of wolf deaths in the Bow Valley," said Dr. Paul Paquet, co-director of CRWP. "The pressure from transportation corridors in the Bow Valley is too great to sustain wolves without drastic changes. In 1991, I predicted that we would lose all of our wolves in the Bow Valley by the year 2000. This prediction is sadly close to reality."

The Central Rockies Wolf Project (CRWP) is a scientific research team that has studied the Bow Valley pack since 1989, shortly following the natural colonization of the pack. CRWP is concerned that Parks Canada has not adequately addressed the issue of train-killed wildlife in the national
parks. "Parks Canada has failed to meet its legislated responsibility of maintaining ecological integrity in Banff National Park. Although Parks Canada is ultimately responsible for wildlife, they have made no concrete attempts to alleviate the effects of the railway line in national parks," said Paquet. "For 10 years we have recommended slowing down the trains and elevating sections of the railway line to allow safe passage of wildlife. Sections not elevated should be fenced to prevent wildlife from accessing the tracks. Canadian Pacific Railway also plays a role in wildlife deaths. Canadian Pacific was instrumental in establishing our mountain national parks. We are hoping they have the good corporate spirit to help maintain the parks."

The Trans Canada Highway is also a major factor in the decline of wolves in the Bow Valley. "Parks Canada has done an abysmal job of maintaining wolves in the Bow Valley", said Paquet. "They have repeatedly ignored our recommendations to elevate or bury sections of the Trans Canada Highway to allow safe passage of wildlife across the highway. Wolves are not the only species that need to cross the highway. The Trans Canada Highway dissects the heart of the Bow Valley, and many animals must cross the highway to make a living. Parks Canada is ultimately responsible for protecting the ecological integrity of Banff National Park. Attempts to mitigate highway
effects by Parks Canada are analogous to putting a filter on a cigarette to prevent smoking related diseases. Parks Canada has decided that when it comes to the Bow Valley, the government is free to subsume environmental concerns to transportation needs, though contrary to legislation and stated
policy.  If we cannot protect wildlife in a national park, we have little chance of maintaining wildlife populations elsewhere in Canada."

Dr. Paul Paquet (306) 376-2015
ppaquet@sympatico.sk.ca 

Carolyn Callaghan
(403) 678-9633
ccallagh@banff.net