KOOTENAY – A second wolf pup has been struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park over a two-week stretch.
The young-of-year male wolf, which was not part of a collaring or tracking program, was found on the highway north of the Floe Lake trailhead on Oct. 1.
“To our knowledge, this is the third human-caused wolf mortality in Kootenay National Park this year,” said Suzanne White, public relations and communications officer for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit.
On Sept. 19, a young-of year-wolf was struck and killed on the same highway, about one kilometre north of the Numa Falls trailhead. In the spring, in mid-May, an adult female wolf was hit and killed south of the Numa Falls trailhead.
White said Parks Canada is aware of two wolf packs travelling through Kootenay National Park.
“The wolves generally travel in remote areas of Kootenay National Park and the range of their territories and exact size of the packs are unknown at this time,” she said.
White said Parks Canada team members work hard to reduce human-caused wildlife mortality.
“Keeping wildlife wild is a shared responsibility – we all have a role to play,” said White.
“Parks Canada would like to remind motorists to observe speed limits, and to drive with caution in the early morning and evening hours.”
Parks Canada has a monitoring program that collects information on wildlife in a variety of ways, such as physical observations by staff and visitors, winter wildlife tracking, remote cameras and collaring.
"This information helps us better understand how wildlife use habitat within the park,” said White.
Please report wildlife incidents to Parks Canada Dispatch at 403-762-1470.
