Wildlife Habitat Effectiveness and Connectivity Research Program

Oil sands mining activity will result in interim habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation for resident wildlife during the period between tree clearing and final reclamation. This research aims to mitigate effects by 1) monitoring wildlife to determine the cumulative impact of disturbance at different spatial scales, and 2) use this information to inform buffer widths and other mitigation strategies with the goal of providing effective habitat and connectivity for wildlife adjacent to active oil sands mines.

Monitoring revealed the movement patterns and habitat selection of different wildlife species. Moose and wolve were a focus of much of the study but deer, coyotes, red foxes, fishers, martens, and lynx were also included. Mine avoidance and river corridor use varied. For example, moose tended to avoid areas within 250m around mines. Some wildlife species showed a preference for using the Athabasca river valley buffer and others did not.