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Publications

WCS Canada aims to be an "Information Provider" - supplying solid research that can be used as the basis for sound decision making.  The results of our research projects have been published as conservation reports, working papers, peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous books. Publications by WCS Canada outside of our projects in Canada are also described below. 

Wild Places:
Ontario's Boreal Forest  - Wolverine, Caribou and Fish conservation/management
Northern Appalachians - New York to Nova Scotia, Lynx and Martin, Human Footprint
Yellowstone-to-Yukon - Grizzly bears, Caribou, Cougars and Protected Areas 
British Columbia - First Nations
 
Species:
Beaver
Bison
Caribou
 
Conservation Challenges:
Climate Change - Water and Beaver
 
Other Publications

Wild Places 

 

Ontario's Boreal Forest

 
Surveying and Monitoring Wolverines in Ontario and Other Lowland, Boreal Forest Habitats:  Recommendations and Protocols.  Erin L. Koen, Justina C. Ray, Jeff Bowman, F. Neil Dawson, Audrey J. Magoun.  NWSI Field Guide FG-06. September 2008

 

Full Report - English

 

Freshwater fish in Ontario's boreal: Status, Conservation and Potential Impacts of Development. David R. Browne. WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 2. September 2007.


Executive Summary - English or French

Full Report - English

 

Modeling Wolverine Occurrence Using Aerial Surveys of Tracks in Snow.  Magoun, A.J., J.C. Ray, D. S Johnson, P. Valkenburg, N. Dawson and J. Bowman. 2007.  Journal of Wildlife Management. 71(7):2221–2229. Download

Distribution and relative abundance of caribou in the Hudson Bay Lowland of Ontario.  Magoun, A.J., K. F. Abraham, J. E. Thompson, J.C. Ray, M.E. Gauthier, G. Brown, G. Woolmer, C. Chenier, and N. Dawson. 2005.  Rangifer. Special Issue No. 16, p105-121.  Download

CBI/WCS Woodland Caribou Expert Workshop Summary A Workshop organized by WCS Canada and the Canadian Boreal Initiative was held February 28 to March 1, 2006 and attended by caribou experts from across Canada. The goal was to assess the current level of knowledge in regards to what is and what is not caribou habitat, and the parameters or thresholds for maintaining sufficient woodland caribou habitat in the face of large-scale anthropogenic disturbances within current caribou range.  Download

 

Northern Appalachians

Rescaling the Human Footprint: A tool for conservation planning at an ecoregional scale.  Landscape and Urban Planning.  Woolmer, G., Trombulak, S.C., Ray, J.C., Doran, P.J., Anderson, M.G., Baldwin, R.F., Morgan, A. and Sanderson, E.W. 2008.  Vol  87 Issue 1. p 42–53.  Download

The Importance of Maine for Ecoregional Conservation Planning.  Baldwin R.F., Trombulak, S.C., Beazley, K., Reining, C., Woolmer, G., Nordgren, J. and Anderson, M. 2008.  Maine Policy Review, Volume 16, Issue 2. p 66-77.  Download

Projecting transition probabilities for regular public roads at the ecoregional scale: A Northern Appalachian/Acadian case study. Baldwin, R., Trombulak, S.C., Anderson, M., Woolmer, G., 2007.  Landscape and Urban Planning, 80, p 404-411.  Request a copy

Relationship between Spatial Distribution of Urban Sprawl and Species Imperilment: Response to Brown and Laband.  Baldwin, R.F, Ray, J.C., Trombulack, S.C., and Woolmer, G. 2007.  Conservation Biology Volume 21, No. 2, 546–548. 

Mesocarnivores of Northeastern North America:  Status and Conservation Issues.  Justina Ray. WCS Working Paper Series, No 15.  2000.  (84 pp.) 

A comprehensive synopsis of conservation issues pertaining to mesocarnivores in the region. The report begins with a general discussion of threats and status, then focuses on species-specific descriptions of history, range, habitat requirements, and responses to human-induced disturbances.  Download

 

Lynx Survey in the Adirondack Park.  John Weaver. 1999. (18pp.)

This survey endeavoured to determine if a population of Canada lynx existed within the area around the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks.  The survey methodology involved a non-invasive technique capitalizing on the natural cheek-rubbing behavior of cats for hair collection and DNA analysis.  This was a follow-up survey to the release of 83 translocated lynx by a team of biologists from SUNY ESF in the late 1980's.  Request a copy

 

Yellowstone-to-Yukon

 

Conserving Caribou Landscapes in the Nahanni Trans-Border Region.  John L. Weaver.  WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 4, May 2008.

Download complete report - English
Download summary - English
Download summary - French


 
 

Carnivores in the Southern Canadian Rockies: Core Areas and Connectivity Across the Crowsnest Highway. Clayton D. Apps, John L. Weaver, Paul C. Paquet, Bryce Bateman, Bruce N. McLellan. WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 3, September 2007.

Download complete report - English
Download summary - English
Download summary - French

 
 
BIG ANIMALS and SMALL PARKS: Implications of Wildlife Distribution and Movements for Expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve. John Weaver. WCS Canada Conservation Report No 1. 2006.

Download complete report - English
Download summary - English
Download summary - French
 
 
The Transboundary Flathead: A Critical Landscape for Carnivores in the Rocky Mountains. John Weaver. WCS Working Papers No. 18. 2001

The Rocky Mountains from Yellowstone to Yukon offer one of the last, best opportunities on the continent  for carnivore conservation. The Flathead River Basin spans the International border between British Columbia and Montana where it forms the western boundary of Glacier National Park. Its unique community of carnivore species including wolf, lynx, marten, wolverine, and grizzly bear, is unmatched in North America.  Download
 

Corridors for Conservation: Integrating Pattern and Process.  Chetkiewicz, C-L. B., C.C. St. Clair, and M.S. Boyce.  2006.   Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 37: 317-342. Download

Uncontrolled field performance of Televilt GPS-Simplex collars on grizzly bears in western and northern Canada.  Gau, R.J., R. Mulders, L.M. Ciarniello, D.C. Heard, C-L B. Chetkiewicz, M.S. Boyce, R. Munro, G. Stenhouse, B. Chruszcz, M.L. Gibeau, B. Milakovic, and K.L. Parker.  2004.    Wildl. Soc. Bull. 32(3):  693-701. Download

Carnivores and Corridors in the Crowsnest Pass. Chetkiewicz, C-L. and Boyce, M.S.  2002.    Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 50.   Edmonton, AB.  52 pp. Download

British Columbia

Camps on the Land: Considerations and Opportunities in the Yukon and northern British Columbia. Donald Reid. September 2006.

For First Nation communities in Canada 'camps on the land' are a strong force for community development, bringing youth and elders together in a non-urban environment where traditional knowledge and skills can be passed on among generations through direct experience. This report summarizes the key considerations in developing 'camps on the land', based on the experiences of First Nations in the Yukon and northern British Columbia. Download

 

WCS Canada aims to be an "Information Provider" - supplying solid research that can be used as the basis for sound decision making.  The results of our research projects have been published as conservation reports, working papers, peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous books. Publications by WCS Canada outside of our projects in Canada are also described below. 

Wild Places:
Ontario's Boreal Forest  - Wolverine, Caribou and Fish conservation/management
Northern Appalachians - New York to Nova Scotia, Lynx and Martin, Human Footprint
Yellowstone-to-Yukon - Grizzly bears, Caribou, Cougars and Protected Areas 
British Columbia - First Nations
 
Species:
Beaver
Bison
Caribou
 
Conservation Challenges:
Climate Change - Water and Beaver
 
Other Publications

Wild Places 

 

Ontario's Boreal Forest

 
Surveying and Monitoring Wolverines in Ontario and Other Lowland, Boreal Forest Habitats:  Recommendations and Protocols.  Erin L. Koen, Justina C. Ray, Jeff Bowman, F. Neil Dawson, Audrey J. Magoun.  NWSI Field Guide FG-06. September 2008

 

Full Report - English

 

Freshwater fish in Ontario's boreal: Status, Conservation and Potential Impacts of Development. David R. Browne. WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 2. September 2007.


Executive Summary - English or French

Full Report - English

 

Modeling Wolverine Occurrence Using Aerial Surveys of Tracks in Snow.  Magoun, A.J., J.C. Ray, D. S Johnson, P. Valkenburg, N. Dawson and J. Bowman. 2007.  Journal of Wildlife Management. 71(7):2221–2229. Download

Distribution and relative abundance of caribou in the Hudson Bay Lowland of Ontario.  Magoun, A.J., K. F. Abraham, J. E. Thompson, J.C. Ray, M.E. Gauthier, G. Brown, G. Woolmer, C. Chenier, and N. Dawson. 2005.  Rangifer. Special Issue No. 16, p105-121.  Download

CBI/WCS Woodland Caribou Expert Workshop Summary A Workshop organized by WCS Canada and the Canadian Boreal Initiative was held February 28 to March 1, 2006 and attended by caribou experts from across Canada. The goal was to assess the current level of knowledge in regards to what is and what is not caribou habitat, and the parameters or thresholds for maintaining sufficient woodland caribou habitat in the face of large-scale anthropogenic disturbances within current caribou range.  Download

 

Northern Appalachians

Rescaling the Human Footprint: A tool for conservation planning at an ecoregional scale.  Landscape and Urban Planning.  Woolmer, G., Trombulak, S.C., Ray, J.C., Doran, P.J., Anderson, M.G., Baldwin, R.F., Morgan, A. and Sanderson, E.W. 2008.  Vol  87 Issue 1. p 42–53.  Download

The Importance of Maine for Ecoregional Conservation Planning.  Baldwin R.F., Trombulak, S.C., Beazley, K., Reining, C., Woolmer, G., Nordgren, J. and Anderson, M. 2008.  Maine Policy Review, Volume 16, Issue 2. p 66-77.  Download

Projecting transition probabilities for regular public roads at the ecoregional scale: A Northern Appalachian/Acadian case study. Baldwin, R., Trombulak, S.C., Anderson, M., Woolmer, G., 2007.  Landscape and Urban Planning, 80, p 404-411.  Request a copy

Relationship between Spatial Distribution of Urban Sprawl and Species Imperilment: Response to Brown and Laband.  Baldwin, R.F, Ray, J.C., Trombulack, S.C., and Woolmer, G. 2007.  Conservation Biology Volume 21, No. 2, 546–548. 

Mesocarnivores of Northeastern North America:  Status and Conservation Issues.  Justina Ray. WCS Working Paper Series, No 15.  2000.  (84 pp.) 

A comprehensive synopsis of conservation issues pertaining to mesocarnivores in the region. The report begins with a general discussion of threats and status, then focuses on species-specific descriptions of history, range, habitat requirements, and responses to human-induced disturbances.  Download

 

Lynx Survey in the Adirondack Park.  John Weaver. 1999. (18pp.)

This survey endeavoured to determine if a population of Canada lynx existed within the area around the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks.  The survey methodology involved a non-invasive technique capitalizing on the natural cheek-rubbing behavior of cats for hair collection and DNA analysis.  This was a follow-up survey to the release of 83 translocated lynx by a team of biologists from SUNY ESF in the late 1980's.  Request a copy

 

Yellowstone-to-Yukon

 

Conserving Caribou Landscapes in the Nahanni Trans-Border Region.  John L. Weaver.  WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 4, May 2008.

Download complete report - English
Download summary - English
Download summary - French


 
 

Carnivores in the Southern Canadian Rockies: Core Areas and Connectivity Across the Crowsnest Highway. Clayton D. Apps, John L. Weaver, Paul C. Paquet, Bryce Bateman, Bruce N. McLellan. WCS Canada Conservation Report No. 3, September 2007.

Download complete report - English
Download summary - English
Download summary - French

 
 
BIG ANIMALS and SMALL PARKS: Implications of Wildlife Distribution and Movements for Expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve. John Weaver. WCS Canada Conservation Report No 1. 2006.

Download complete report - English
Download summary - English
Download summary - French
 
 
The Transboundary Flathead: A Critical Landscape for Carnivores in the Rocky Mountains. John Weaver. WCS Working Papers No. 18. 2001

The Rocky Mountains from Yellowstone to Yukon offer one of the last, best opportunities on the continent  for carnivore conservation. The Flathead River Basin spans the International border between British Columbia and Montana where it forms the western boundary of Glacier National Park. Its unique community of carnivore species including wolf, lynx, marten, wolverine, and grizzly bear, is unmatched in North America.  Download
 

Corridors for Conservation: Integrating Pattern and Process.  Chetkiewicz, C-L. B., C.C. St. Clair, and M.S. Boyce.  2006.   Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 37: 317-342. Download

Uncontrolled field performance of Televilt GPS-Simplex collars on grizzly bears in western and northern Canada.  Gau, R.J., R. Mulders, L.M. Ciarniello, D.C. Heard, C-L B. Chetkiewicz, M.S. Boyce, R. Munro, G. Stenhouse, B. Chruszcz, M.L. Gibeau, B. Milakovic, and K.L. Parker.  2004.    Wildl. Soc. Bull. 32(3):  693-701. Download

Carnivores and Corridors in the Crowsnest Pass. Chetkiewicz, C-L. and Boyce, M.S.  2002.    Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 50.   Edmonton, AB.  52 pp. Download

British Columbia

Camps on the Land: Considerations and Opportunities in the Yukon and northern British Columbia. Donald Reid. September 2006.

For First Nation communities in Canada 'camps on the land' are a strong force for community development, bringing youth and elders together in a non-urban environment where traditional knowledge and skills can be passed on among generations through direct experience. This report summarizes the key considerations in developing 'camps on the land', based on the experiences of First Nations in the Yukon and northern British Columbia. Download

 


Beaver

A Pond of Gold - Storing Water Naturally
Water … we can’t live without it. No substitute exists for this precious and beautiful resource, which has usually been scarce in the Rocky Mountain West. In the future, the flow of water may decline as our climate becomes warmer and drier. The amount of snowpack in the mountains will be less, melting and runoff will occur earlier in the spring, and stream flow will diminish earlier in summer. By late summer when we need water the most, it may be in short supply. Many people believe that water will be the new gold of the future. As the reality of climate change becomes ever more apparent, we will need to catch and store water more effectively. We’ve given water lots of advice,in the form of expensive dams and big reservoirs but is that always the best solution? Likely not. Have we overlooked a natural ally in our efforts to conserve and manage water? Yes, consider the beaver!

Bison


Caribou

Caribou and the North: A Shared Future

The harsh climates of the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness demands tough survival skills. Now, climate change coupled with widespread oil, gas, and mineral development adds new pressure for the region’s iconic wildlife. These topics are addressed in Caribou and the North: A Shared Future, by Monte Hummel, President Emeritus of WWF-Canada, and Dr Justina C. Ray, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada).
 
The book explores the reason for the interlinked fate of caribou and the North, as it relates to migratory tundra caribou, boreal forest caribou, and mountain caribou in Canada and the U.S. It features 125 photographs, 40 maps, forewords by Robert Redford and Stephen Kakfwi (former Premier of the Northwest Territories), as well as original sketches by Robert Bateman to introduce each of the book’s four major sections. Caribou and the North will interest anyone invested in the fate of our continent’s iconic wildlife and the conservation challenges of our time.

Caribou and the North: A Shared Future

The harsh climates of the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness demands tough survival skills. Now, climate change coupled with widespread oil, gas, and mineral development adds new pressure for the region’s iconic wildlife. These topics are addressed in Caribou and the North: A Shared Future, by Monte Hummel, President Emeritus of WWF-Canada, and Dr Justina C. Ray, Executive Director of Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada).
 
The book explores the reason for the interlinked fate of caribou and the North, as it relates to migratory tundra caribou, boreal forest caribou, and mountain caribou in Canada and the U.S. It features 125 photographs, 40 maps, forewords by Robert Redford and Stephen Kakfwi (former Premier of the Northwest Territories), as well as original sketches by Robert Bateman to introduce each of the book’s four major sections. Caribou and the North will interest anyone invested in the fate of our continent’s iconic wildlife and the conservation challenges of our time.

Climate Change

Species Feeling the Heat - Connecting Deforestation and Climate Change
This Wildlife Conservation Society report profiles more than a dozen animal species and groups that are facing threats due to climate change impacts including: changing land and sea temperatures; shifting rain patterns; exposure to new pathogens and disease; and increased threats of predation.
Natural Solutions - Protected areas helping peopel cope with climate change
This book clearly articulates how protected areas contribute significantly to reducing impacts of climate change and what is needed for them to achieve even more. As we enter an unprecedented scale of negotiations about climate and biodiversity it is important that these messages reach policy makers loud and clear and are translated into effective policies and funding mechanisms.”
A Pond of Gold - Storing Water Naturally
Water … we can’t live without it. No substitute exists for this precious and beautiful resource, which has usually been scarce in the Rocky Mountain West. In the future, the flow of water may decline as our climate becomes warmer and drier. The amount of snowpack in the mountains will be less, melting and runoff will occur earlier in the spring, and stream flow will diminish earlier in summer. By late summer when we need water the most, it may be in short supply. Many people believe that water will be the new gold of the future. As the reality of climate change becomes ever more apparent, we will need to catch and store water more effectively. We’ve given water lots of advice,in the form of expensive dams and big reservoirs but is that always the best solution? Likely not. Have we overlooked a natural ally in our efforts to conserve and manage water? Yes, consider the beaver!

Other Publications

Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores.  Edited by Justina Ray, Paula MacKay, Robert Long.  2007.  Island Press

A comprehensive guide for wildlife researchers who seek to conduct carnivore surveys using the most up-to-date scientific approaches. Twenty-five experts from across North America discuss strategies for implementing surveys across a broad range of habitats, providing input on survey design, sample collection, DNA and endocrine analyses, and data analysis. Photographs from the field, line drawings, and detailed case studies further illustrate the on-the-ground application of the survey methods discussed.
Available from Island Press.

 
 
Setting Conservation and Research Priorities for larger African Carnivores. Justina Ray, Luke Hunter and Joanna Zigouris. 2005. WCS Working Paper No. 24: 1-19.203.
Download (6MB)

This working paper aims to establish conservation priorities for large carnivores in Africa that will contibute to the establishment of long term conservation strategies in the face of increasing human-induced threats to the persistence of these species.
 
 
Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity. Edited by Justina Ray, Kent Redford, Robert Steneck and Joel Berger. 2005. Island Press.

This book addresses the question; "What is the role of large carnivores in ecosystem functioning and can this role  be used for conservation purposes?" It provides an overview of the theoretical context and practical opportunities and limitations of using large carnivores as tools for biodiversity conservation. Available from www.amazon.ca and www.amazon.com
 
 
Use of Scented Hair Snares to Detect Ocelots. John L. Weaver, Peggy Wood, David Paetkau, Linda L. Laack. 2005. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Biologists need a variety of tools to determine the population and genetic status of theocelot (Leopardus pardalis), an elusive Neotropical cat that favors dense habitats. We developed and tested a technique that entices ocelots to rub on scented hair snares and uses DNA analysis of the hair to determine species, gender, and individual identity.   Download article

 

 

 

Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores.  Edited by Justina Ray, Paula MacKay, Robert Long.  2007.  Island Press

A comprehensive guide for wildlife researchers who seek to conduct carnivore surveys using the most up-to-date scientific approaches. Twenty-five experts from across North America discuss strategies for implementing surveys across a broad range of habitats, providing input on survey design, sample collection, DNA and endocrine analyses, and data analysis. Photographs from the field, line drawings, and detailed case studies further illustrate the on-the-ground application of the survey methods discussed.
Available from Island Press.

 
 
Setting Conservation and Research Priorities for larger African Carnivores. Justina Ray, Luke Hunter and Joanna Zigouris. 2005. WCS Working Paper No. 24: 1-19.203.
Download (6MB)

This working paper aims to establish conservation priorities for large carnivores in Africa that will contibute to the establishment of long term conservation strategies in the face of increasing human-induced threats to the persistence of these species.
 
 
Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity. Edited by Justina Ray, Kent Redford, Robert Steneck and Joel Berger. 2005. Island Press.

This book addresses the question; "What is the role of large carnivores in ecosystem functioning and can this role  be used for conservation purposes?" It provides an overview of the theoretical context and practical opportunities and limitations of using large carnivores as tools for biodiversity conservation. Available from www.amazon.ca and www.amazon.com
 
 
Use of Scented Hair Snares to Detect Ocelots. John L. Weaver, Peggy Wood, David Paetkau, Linda L. Laack. 2005. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Biologists need a variety of tools to determine the population and genetic status of theocelot (Leopardus pardalis), an elusive Neotropical cat that favors dense habitats. We developed and tested a technique that entices ocelots to rub on scented hair snares and uses DNA analysis of the hair to determine species, gender, and individual identity.   Download article

 

 

 
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