Melanie P. Percy, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E2, Canada; Carolyn C. Callaghan, Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Paul C. Paquet, Department of Biology and Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Tom Hurd, Parks Canada, Banff National Park, Banff, AB T0L 0C0, Canada

The impacts of transportation corridors on gray wolves (Canis lupus) may include direct mortality, habitat loss, habitat alienation, spatial and temporal shifts in habitat use patterns and shifts in prey distribution. The Bow River Valley of Banff National Park is bisected by the Trans Canada Highway, the Bow Valley Parkway (BVP) (a paved secondary road), and the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline. Between 1986 and 1998, roads in the lower and middle Bow River Valley were responsible for 68 percent of known wolf mortality. The Bow Valley wolf pack has decreased in size from 12 members in 1994, to 2 members in 1999. In addition to direct mortality, spatial and temporal alienation of habitat adjacent to roads and reluctance to cross roads further decreases habitat security for wolves. This reduction in habitat security may ultimately lead to permanent abandonment of the Bow Valley.

We tested a conceptual model of wolf response to traffic volumes along roads in Banff National Park, using 24-hour radio telemetry data and wolf snow tracking data collected between 1988 and 1998. Twenty-four hour monitoring diels were conducted on four radio-collared members of the Bow Valley wolf pack. Wolf road crossings identified during monitoring diels were correlated with time of day, ambient light, and traffic volume data. Snow tracking data collected during dawn and dusk surveys along the BVP were used to determine the approximate timing of wolf movement along the road surface (i.e. use of roads as travel corridors). Daily wolf movement patterns were also examined to determine if wolves were most active during periods of low traffic volume.

Road crossing data indicate that wolves primarily crossed roads within two hours of sunrise and within three hours of sunset when traffic volumes were low. Results of winter driving surveys conducted along the BVP indicate that 82.9 percent of wolf travel along the road surface occurred between dusk and dawn, suggesting that daytime travel along the road surface was relatively rare. Wolves were found to be most active at dawn and dusk, which may be a product of low human activity, prey activity patterns, or light conditions.

Our results suggest that habitat security for wolves across and adjacent to roadways may be increased by reducing traffic volumes at times when wolves are most active. Implementation of temporal road closures and traffic quotas may allow for greater habitat connectivity for wolves in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park.