The Eastern wolf once occupied a range throughout eastern North America as far north as the Great Lakes.  Due to habitat loss, and deliberate attempts to exterminate wolves throughout their range over more than a century, Eastern wolves were eliminated in most of their historical range. Today they occupy a narrow band stretching from the Gulf of St Lawrence to southeastern Manitoba. The exact boundaries of this range are still poorly defined.  However, wolves are seldom seen any great distance south of Algonquin or Gatineau parks. 

In 2004 CPAWS-OV played a key role in the establishment of a buffer zone in all 39 townships that surround Algonquin Park where killing of wolves and coyotes is prohibited. Previously, wolves from Algonquin were often shot, trapped or snared when they ventured outside the park boundary. 

The Eastern wolf has been designated by both the federal and Ontario governments as a species of Special Concern.  Canada’s Species at Risk Act requires that the federal minister prepare a Management Plan for the Eastern wolf by May 2008 that includes measures for the conservation of the species and its habitat, in cooperation with each province and territory in which the species is found.

A Strategy for Wolf Conservation in Ontario was adopted in June 2005.  It represents an initial step towards a conservation strategy for Ontario wolves. Unfortunately, it does not provide adequate protection, especially for the Eastern wolf, which continues to be hunted and trapped throughout most of its range.

In October 2006, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario emphasized that the Strategy “does not constitute the management plan required by the federal Species at Risk Act” and called for urgent action by the Ministry of Natural Resources to address “the requirements of managing the eastern wolf as a species at risk”.

In 2005 the Minister of Natural Resources promised to establish a Wolf Advisory Committee by December of that year to evaluate additional wolf information as it became available.  Unfortunately this committee has not been established.

It is CPAWS-OV’s position that the Ontario government should:

1. Establish a permanent Wolf Advisory Committee immediately.

2. Implement an immediate ban on killing of Gray and Eastern wolves in all provincial parks and conservation reserves.

3. Implement an immediate ban on killing of Eastern wolves throughout their current and historical range (for example, in the Algonquin to Adirondacks region which is a potential recovery area for the species).

4. Establish a comprehensive provincial Eastern Wolf conservation and recovery strategy.

For more information on the Eastern Wolf campaign or to get involved, please contact John McDonnell at jmcdonnell@cpaws.org or by phone at (613) 232-7297.

Documents:

• Backgrounder on Wolf Conservation in Ontario - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
   
• Strategy for Wolf Conservation in Ontario - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
   
• What is Ontario doing to help conserve wolf populations? - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources