Parks Canada staff cite public safety concerns after wolf killed in Kluane

According to a Parks Canada bulletin posted to Facebook on Aug. 26, the decision came after several weeks of investigation by Parks Canada staff. As previously reported by the News the wolf was first reported to Parks Canada in early Aug. after the animal was observed exhibiting unnatural behaviour such as following and directly approaching humans. One such encounter left one hiker with minor injuries after the wolf bit them while sleeping outside their tent while camping around Canada Creek backcountry campsite.

Parks Canada Conservation Resource Officer Sarah Chisholm said that the decision to kill an animal is not one that parks staff take lightly and was only made after extensive investigation by Parks Canada staff.

“Park staff interviewed reporting parties. They looked at photos and videos from both wildlife cameras that were out in the area and from visitors,” said Chisholm.

Once staff had collected this information Chisholm said that staff attended the area in person and located the wolf in the same area where the incidents with people had occurred.

“They were able to actually observe the behavior of the wolf directly in the area,” Chisholm said. “It was in the area that past incidents were reported in, and it demonstrated the same concerning behavior [so] the decision was made to humanely put down the wolf last weekend.”

According to Chisholm, Parks Canada weighed several other options including a continued area closure in order to allow wolf time to de-habituate from people. However, Chisholm said that this option was ultimately not chosen given the low likelihood that the animal would un-learn the concerning behaviours.

“Behavior like this is something that in other situations has seen to be very persistent. It’s difficult to change an animal’s behavior when it’s displaying behavior like this,” Chisholm said. “We also know that wolves can travel far distances, and it’s pretty likely that this wolf does travel outside the closed area and outside the park. So, for these reasons, we determined that the threat to the public wouldn’t be mitigated by just keeping the area closed and keeping people away.”

Similarly Chisholm said that a wolf’s ability to travel over massive distances made relocation an unfeasible solution as well as parks staff would be unable to ensure the wolf did not interact with humans in other areas or simply return to the park.

The remains of the wolf are now being assessed for rabies through a necropsy, though Chisholm said that the chief theory as to why this wolf displayed these behaviours is still food conditioning by humans.

“The behavior that this wolf was showing, indifference to or willingly approaching humans and bold behavior is consistent with what’s been seen in other locations in wolves that have, in the past received human food and therefore continue to look towards humans as a source of food,” said Chisholm.

Chisholm said the regrettable outcome for this wolf should serve as an important reminder of the consequences of allowing wildlife to access human food. Chisholm said that “Parks Canada, and park visitors and the wider public all share the responsibility of preventing situations like this from happening.” Chisholm reminded visitors that feeding wildlife is illegal and that Parks Canada requires all visitors to secure food and other attractants in bear resistant containers.

Visitors should also refrain from approaching wildlife, Chisholm said that keeping a distance “is an important component in animals learning that it’s not safe to be close to humans.”

Finally Chisholm said that any visitors who observe unusual or unsafe behaviour by wildlife should report their observations to Parks Canada as soon as possible so that parks staff can intervene early to prevent negative interactions.

Wildlife sightings can be reported in-person to parks staff or by calling the Kluane National Park and Reserve Visitor Centre in Haines Junction at 867-634-5134.

For emergencies visitors should call Parks Canada dispatch at 1-780-852-3100. This number will also work for those calling on a satellite phone.

Contact reporter Noah Korver at noah.korver@yukon-news.com