The influences of wolf predation, habitat loss, and human activity on caribou and moose in the Alberta oil sands

This study examined the effects of wolf predation, habitat loss, and human activity on woodland caribou and moose in Alberta’s oil sands region. Researchers used trained detection dogs to locate scat from caribou, moose, and wolves, enabling non-invasive analysis of resource selection, stress levels, and population estimates through genetic mark–recapture methods. The project aimed to understand the drivers of caribou decline—habitat degradation, physiological stress from human disturbance, and increased predation linked to changes in prey populations—while developing reliable monitoring techniques for large mammals in boreal ecosystems.

The research found that human activity in the Alberta oil sands significantly affects caribou behavior and stress levels, while wolf predation is primarily directed at deer, not caribou. Over four years, no major population changes were observed, but caribou numbers were notably higher than previously estimated. These findings suggest that managing human land use—such as clustering industrial activity and minimizing road networks—may be more effective for caribou conservation than wolf removal, which could trigger ecological imbalances. The authors recommend implementing targeted land-use strategies and conducting long-term, non-invasive monitoring of caribou and related species to better guide adaptive ecosystem management.