How is Wolf Predation Affected by the Presence and Type of Cutline?

This study seeks to explore how human influence can impact wolf predation. Specifically, it will seek to develop a better understanding of how human created cutlines influence the predation success of wolves on different sizes of prey species (small, medium, and large) in a particular area. Exploration of this topic will provide insight into how human legacies present in an ecosystem impact wolves, negatively or positively.

For this study, we observed wolf predation by walking each cutline included in the experiment once a week and using trail cameras, set up at two different sites, along 3 different cutline treatments; legacy cutlines, low impact cutlines, and no cutlines. Along each type of cutline at each site, 10 observation points were established. At these points, evidence of wolf predation was recorded by researchers walking the cutlines. Trail cameras were set up to observe wolf behaviour and potentially capture a wolf predation event. Data collection occurred over the period of three months and evidence of wolf predation from walking the cutlines and trail cameras was combined and analysed. Total wolf predation at each site was recorded and processed for each cutline type. Statistical analysis of collected data will dictate if there is a significant difference between treatments.