| An ongoing study on the effect of humans on wildlife in southern Alberta’s Livingstone Range returns potentially life-saving information to researchers daily. Using specialized, remote photographic equipment, University of Calgary researchers are now able to predict spots where select ungulates will deliver the next generation.
"One unexpected finding has been the ability to determine where elk, moose and deer are going to have their babies," explains Dr. Michael Quinn, director of Research and Liaison at the Miistakis Institute. "We have identified some very important areas for fawns and calves."
Affiliated with the University of Calgary, the non-profit Miistakis Institute conducts ecosystem research in the Rocky Mountains. After two more field seasons, information collected through this research is marked for evaluation to support access planning for this relatively undeveloped section of the eastern slopes. "Such a plan would specify the type, timing and intensity of human use that can occur while still maintaining critical wildlife habitat and regional connectivity," Quinn says.
Begun in 2004, the Livingstone Study has already contributed significant information about human and wildlife interactions in the area. Using heat and motion-sensitive digital infrared cameras hidden in trees, research shows periods of intense human activity push animals away from trails. "We definitely see a shift in large carnivore use away from the human trails on the weekends, especially long weekends when it is busiest," Quinn says. "These animals return to the trails when the people are less abundant on the weekdays. This pattern is only possible if the animals have alternative areas to use. We have seen a preference for grizzly bears using human trails when there are no people around."
He believes there may be two explanations for the grizzlies’ use of "human" trail areas. "We tend to build roads and trails up creek valleys where grizzlies would have travelled anyway, and it is easier to move up these trails if you are a big animal."
The photos also reveal several close calls where motorized vehicles drive by the cameras immediately after "spooking deer and other animals." From analysis conducted to date, research shows 87 per cent of human use of the trails comes from the motorized variety, with ATVs accounting for 42 per cent of total use. Researchers can show motorized use peaks between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., while large mammal use of human recreation trails peaks between 5 a.m. and noon, then again between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Additionally, they’ve learned grizzly use occurs mainly in the higher elevation of the study area, although there are some areas of significant use in habitats at lower elevations.
After compiling the requisite five years worth of field data – in order to be statistically valid – Quinn and the other researchers will begin to extract some extremely specific information. All photos have a date, time and temperature stamp enabling researchers to compile information on close encounters of the wild kind. "We have not analyzed the images to look for close occurrences, but plan to do so in the future," says Quinn. "We have seen examples where a grizzly bear was in front of the camera just minutes before the researcher showed up to download the images."
While researchers haven’t yet examined if there’s a different response from wildlife to ATVs or motorbikes or hikers, the final results should prove fascinating if nothing else. "The primary purpose of the research is to determine the interactions between people and wildlife in time and space," Quinn says. "Ultimately, we hope to use this information to support the development of an access management plan for the area. Such a plan would specify the type, timing, and intensity of human use that can occur while still maintaining critical wildlife habitat and regional connectivity." |
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