The MNRF has put forward a draft recovery strategy for the Algonquin wolf through the Ontario Environmental Registry (ERO).
In 2016, the Algonquin wolf was listed as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario, and hunting and trapping of both wolves and coyotes was immediately banned as an interim measure. This affected 40 townships beyond the already-protected Algonquin Provincial Park area.
The draft recovery strategy, released in mid January, recommends that a hunting and trapping ban be expanded to a greatly increased area across central and southern Ontario.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) is concerned that a ban in the newly designated area, referred to in the strategy as the Algonquin Wolf Recovery Zone, could negatively impact deer, moose, and beaver populations due to predation by increasing numbers of wolves and coyotes, and won’t address the significant threat posed by hybridization with coyotes.
“This strategy considers hunting and trapping to be the greatest threat to the Algonquin wolf and recommends expanding the current prohibition on hunting and trapping of wolves and coyotes to an area over 39,000 square kilometres. The OFAH will fight this broad-brush approach, and we encourage hunters and trappers to have their say on the strategy,” said Mark Ryckman, OFAH manager of policy.
The draft strategy was open for public comment until Feb. 14 at www.ebr.gov.on.ca under Notice #013-1813.
Originally published in the Ontario OUT of DOORS 2018 Fishing Annual
