Status and conservation of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in wildlife reserves of Quebec

Wolf populations have been relatively stable during the last 15 years in se ven of nine wildlife reserves located in southern Quebec, despite harvest b y legal trapping. Wolf densities, estimated via hunter surveys and an equat ion linking questionnaire data and radio-tracking data, varied between 0.7 and 2.2 animals/100 km(2). In some reserves, wolf populations persisted at ca. 1 individual/100 km(2) with low prey densities (i.e. < 2 moose/10 km(2) ). Long-term density and trapping data indicated that wolf populations freq uently sustained annual harvest rates exceeding 35% without experiencing po pulation declines. However, such systems appeared unstable, especially for reserves < 1500 km(2) in size. Immigration from adjacent areas likely contr ibuted to the persistence of wolf populations in reserves that experienced harvest rates > 35%. Although the viability of wolf populations in southern Quebec seems not to be threatened by trapping, some wildlife reserves act as population sinks, instead of sources, for wolves. The longterm conservat ion of wolves requires reduction of harvests in some reserves, and simultan eous monitoring of wolf populations outside wildlife reserves. (C) 2000 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.