Predator access control

Woodland caribou conservation focuses much effort on managing predators, alternate prey and human footprint. Linear features such as seismic lines are claimed to benefit deer and wolves with adverse implications to caribou. Spreading 200 m3/ha of logs on linear features is suggested as a possible mitigation. We used motion sensor cameras and track count surveys to test this mitigation and monitor predator and prey use on linear features across Statoil’s leases in the oil sands. Two years of continuous camera monitoring provided measures of animal use on linear features with and without mitigation, while track counts provided measures of use on and off of linear features.

Predator use of linear features was related to date, prey, and conditions, and mainly depended on conditions that impeded or improved mobility – snow packing increased predator use, and line blocking reduced wolf (and human) traffic, which can reduce the influence of linear features on predator-prey overlap. However, animals didn’t discern between historical linear features and surrounding undisturbed habitats if they both had unpacked snow on them.