Wolves (Canis lupus) are coming too close to the towns of Klawock and Craig

Observation by Brian Holter:

You never used to be able to see wolves, they were there but you didn’t see them. Now they are very close to town and there are less deer, the wolves are eating them!

Ross Dorendorf, Wildlife Biologist III with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, writes:

The Sitka black-tailed deer population naturally fluctuates over time. Many factors influence deer abundance including habitat conditions, winter severity, predation, and hunting. We cannot census deer, so we use population indices to track trends in abundance. We use a combination of indirect indicators such as harvest, days hunted per deer taken, number of hunters hunting, winter severity, and pellet group counts. Prince of Wales residents enjoyed relatively high deer harvest from 2006 – 2015. In 2016 and 2017 harvest declined, but so did hunter effort. As of 2017, the number of hunters, days spent hunting, and deer harvested are at very similar levels to the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

The consensus of over 30 years of research is that clearcutting old-growth forest reduces carrying capacity for deer, especially during winters with deep and persistent snow. Deer rely on old-growth forest as critical winter habitat to survive severe winters with heavy snowfall. Old growth forest provides snow interception to allow access to forage, and it has enough openings to allow for the growth of forage deer need to survive the winter. After the forest is cut, initially there is a surge in forage available for deer, however, if a severe winter with heavy snowfall occurs, deer will not have access to the forage they need to survive. When trees grow back, they enter the second growth stage or stem exclusion stage where tree growth is so thick it does not let the light reach the forest floor, thus forage is sparse. It takes over 100 years for forests to grow to the point where openings begin to allow light to penetrate the canopy bringing back forage on the forest floor. So far, we have been unable to confirm that thinning enables landscapes regenerating from clear cuts to support higher populations of deer.

The wolf population in Game Management Unit 2 (Prince of Wales and surrounding islands) also fluctuates through time in response to hunting and trapping pressure and changes in prey abundance. In 2012 the Alaska Department of Fish and Game began developing a method of estimating the abundance of wolves in Game Management Unit 2 using DNA extracted from wolf hair collected using an array of hair boards throughout northern and central Prince of Wales Island. In fall 2014 the population was estimated at 89 wolves and in fall 2015 101 wolves, far below the number on which previous harvest management was based. Following two years of conservative harvest management by fall 2016 the population was estimated at 231 wolves in fall 2016 and 225 in fall 2017. The fall 2018 estimate should be available later this summer.

Prior to 2019 there were no population goals for GMU 2 wolves. To determine the appropriate population objective, ADF&G submitted a proposal to the Alaska Board of Game requesting that the Board set an objective for Unit 2 wolves. That proposal enjoyed wide support from Fish and Game Advisory Committees throughout southern Southeast Alaska and from the Regional Advisory Council to the Federal Subsistence Board. The Board of Game established a population objective of 150-200 wolves for GMU 2. Beginning in fall 2019 ADF&G will manage wolf harvest to maintain the population within the objective range.

Wolves sighted near urban areas are not unheard of in Alaska. In southeast Alaska, wolves have been reported in and around major cities such as Juneau and Ketchikan. Knowing what to do if you encounter wildlife is important for your safety. If you encounter a wolf while hiking, stop and maintain eye contact with the animal. If the wolf approaches you, hold your ground, wave your arms and yell. Its best to travel in groups while hiking to reduce the chances of a wolf approaching you. Also, carrying a deterrent, bear pepper spray or a firearm, can help with animals that continue to approach. If a wolf continues approaching after yelling and waving your arms, ready your deterrent and use it if necessary. Wolves may become habituated to people and/or food conditioned. Therefore, it’s crucial to not feed wolves or other big game animals to avoid food conditioning and/or habituation.