Summary

Description

This report covers the prey utilization by wolves and an assessment of wolf and prey densities in 3 drainages within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The relative utilization and availability of prey types used by wolves Canis lupus in the Kongakut, Hulahula and Canning River drainages was assessed by visual observation and by analysis of wolf scats. Wolves were observed in each of the 3 drainages. Visual assessment indicated that moose Aloes aloes, caribou Rangifer tarandus, and Dall sheep Ovis dalli were available to the wolves in the Kongakut drainage. In the Hulahula drainage, sheep seemed to be the prey species most available, while in the Canning moose were present in relatively high densities and caribou at a lower but stable density. Scat analysis indicated that the Kongakut wolves preyed on the 3 available ungulates, but focused on caribou; the Hulahula wolves also utilized all 3 species, but ate relatively more sheep; while no moose remains were found in the scats from the Canning.