Wolf recovery in northeastern United States through natural colonization from Canada

Adrian P. Wydeven, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 220, Park Falls, WI 54552, USA; Todd K. Fuller, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-4210, USA; William Weber, Kristi McDonald, Wildlife Conservation Society, 185th Street and Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460-2099, USA

Despite the presences of a viable wolf (Canis lupus) population within 70 km of extensive areas of suitable habitat in northeast United States, wolves have not been successful in recolonizing this region since they became extirpated in the late 1800's. We would like to explore the potential for natural recovery into this region, and examine whether wolf recovery is a realistic possibility for this area.

Although wolf populations in southern Quebec appear to be relatively healthy, the population is heavily exploited outside reserves, and probably sends out few long-distance dispersers. Wolves traveling south from the Quebec wolf range, must pass through the highly populated and extensively developed areas along the St Lawrence Valley. Wolves have not previously demonstrated the ability to traverse this region.

Two studies have demostrated that potential habitat base in northeast United States is high, but the habitat assessments have been based on wolf habitat in the Great Lake region. The northeast U.S. with its different prey abundance and more varied topography may not be completely comparable to the Great Lakes region.

An additional concern of wolves moving into northeast U.S. would be gentic swamping of wolf genes by coyote genes. Wolves in southeast Canada represent the smallest variety of wolves in North America, and coyotes in northeast are the largest variety of coyotes in the world. Therefore risk of hybridization and possibly competition could be high.

Another factor that will affect wolf recovery in the NE US is public acceptance, both in the U.S. and southern Canada. Wolf recovery in the U.S. would also likely mean wolf recolonization in southern Quebec, and New Brunswick. Broad public attitude surveys are needed on both sides of the border to determine if wolf recovery will be accepted.

The potential for wolf recovery would be enhanced in northeast United States by international protection of corridor habitat, cooperative research efforts between U.S. states and Canadian provinces, intense human attitude surveys of the region, increase education on predators, support of Quebec wolf studies, genetic investigations of coyotes and wolves in the region, and ongoing investigations in status and abundance of local carnivores. Even with these efforts it still may require an active reintroduction program to return wolves to northeast United States.