Winter access has been delayed into the Cavell Road and Astoria Trail areas annually for the last four years in support of caribou conservation, and on going wolf pack monitoring during this time is contributing to the broader caribou conservation research program. Park biologists collect and study data from remote cameras and GPS collar downloads in the Cavell area, adding to the bigger picture as yearly data is compiled.
This delay is in place to address the threat of facilitated predator access (wolves following packed trails into winter caribou habitat) and overall, compliance with the delayed access was very good again this year. However, there were two violations of the delayed access restriction this winter, and both times wolves were captured on camera walking in those tracks shortly afterwards.
The first incident occurred when a skier entered the area on Nov. 7. On Nov. 9, camera data shows wolves following the track; they travelled all the way to Cavell Meadows and spent a couple of days in the area before fast-tracking down to the Whirlpool Valley. The second incident was on Dec. 4, when wolves followed tracks made by a hiker who had entered the area on Dec. 2. In this case, the wolves only travelled about four kilometres up the road, which is likely as far as that track went.
There was also a third incident of wolves following tracks along the Cavell Road, and this time not only was the culprit caught on camera, we also know his name: alces alces (moose).
