Wildlife Research: Elk Ecology The ecology of a resident Burwash/French River herd of 50-60 elk, originating from 1930s introductions was extensively studied from 1993 to 1997 in a cooperative effort  by Cambrian College and Laurentian University. Sixteen elk were captured and radio-collared during this period using helicopters and dart guns. Three MSc level theses (Dept. of Biology, L.U.) and several scientific publications dealing with elk movement, habitat use, food selection and population dynamics resulted from this research. The investigation gave impetus for the Ontario Elk Restoration Project, announced by the Minister of Natural Resources in 1997.   photograph ©2003 Norm Fournier Close to 200 elk from Elk Island National Park, Alberta, were introduced to the Burwash/French River area in 4 shipments from 1998 to 2001. Ninety-eight percent of the introduced animals were fitted with radio-collars prior to transport. Post-release dispersal, habitat use, reproductive success and survival of the introduced elk has been monitored by radio-telemetry and winter helicopter surveys. Five years after the first introduction and some initial mortality due to relocation, acclimation stress and predation, the elk are beginning to reestablish themselves as a large fauna component of the Precambrian Shield ecosystem.  For more about the Burwash Elk Program see the Burwash Elk Program page. Nuisance Bear Behavior, Population Dynamics and the Effect of Rehabilitation on Orphaned Cubs. photograph ©2003 Joe Hamr In the spring of 2002, 60 orphaned, shelter-rehabilitated black bears were fitted with light-weight, expandable radio-collars and released as yearlings in the French River-Lake Nipissing region. Twenty of these bears were released in the south and west of Burwash, off logging roads originating at HWY 637. In addition, 12 wild-raised bear yearlings, captured during 2002 in the study area as nuisance animals were radio-collared and also released in the vicinity of Burwash. Dispersal, survival and foraging behavior of all collared bears is monitored until den entry. Denning bears are checked during March and April, tranquilized, weighed, measured and returned to dens. Monitoring will continue until the spring 2004. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of shelter rehabilitation on orphaned bear survival, nuisance behavior and post-release dispersal. Nuisance bear data has been routinely collected for the past 13 years by the Ministry of Natural Resources and later by Cambrian College. The number of nuisance bear complaints by the public and the number of problem bears captured and relocated have been recorded annually. Ear-tagging and sexing of some captured nuisance bears began in 1990.  From 1995 to 2003, 95% of more than 750 captured nuisance bears were tranquillized, sexed, aged by cementum annuli, ear-tagged and weighed as a part of a long-term, cooperative study. During this period, 62 captured nuisance bears of all ages and both sexes were fitted with radio-transmitters for the purpose of monitoring post-relocation homing behaviour, survival and home range use. In the early years of this project, many of the relocated bears were released at, or in the vicinity of Burwash. Several of the collared bears included parts of Burwash in their home ranges. Annual nuisance bear activity in Sudbury reflects natural food availability both spatially and temporally. In lean summers, peaks of nuisance activity are apparent in June and September, before and after the presence of ripe berries. The bimodal pattern is absent during years of low problem bear complaints and captures, presumably due to more abundant natural foods. Bear demographics, climatic records and indicators of natural food availability are being examined for possible clues to the observed pattern of nuisance bear behaviour.     photograph ©2003 MIke Hall   Wolf  Telemetry In late summer 2003, the Northern Environmental Heritage Institute (NEHI) at Cambrian College, together with the Department of Zoology, University of Guelph initiated live-capture of wolves throughout the core of the Burwash/French River elk  range. The purpose of this effort was to fit both conventional VHF and state-of-the-art GPS collars on several members of different wolf packs that prey on elk. By following wolf movements and improving the capability of visually locating packs and their tracks, researchers will be able to estimate the density of wolves in the elk range, the number of packs preying on elk , the number of elk killed by wolves per unit time, the proportion of the elk population lost to wolves, and the composition of  large prey, which also consists of moose, deer and beaver.  This information is essential for assessing the status of the elk restoration project, which began in 1998. At the same time, University of Guelph researchers will be able to study the relationship between elk and wolf movements, and compare them to other elk-wolf systems in North America (including another elk release area in Bancroft, Ontario). photograph ©2003 Joe Hamr photograph ©2003 Ken McCausland   Massasauga Rattlesnake Distribution Survey The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is Ontario's only venomous snake.  It has been classified as "threatened" by the  Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The range of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake in Ontario has declined over the past 100 years due to persecution and habitat loss.  In Ontario, the shoreline of Georgian Bay is home of the largest remaining population of this species.  Although studies have been going on for years in the south-eastern Georgian Bay sphere, the species' abundance and distribution in the northern portion of its range is relatively unknown.  The purpose of this joint Cambrian College/Ministry of Natural Resources study was to determine the status and distribution of a threatened reptile species in the Sudbury District. Suitable rattlesnake habitat was searched and sightings of all species of snakes were recorded along with information on habitat. The local public was surveyed for past encounters with rattlesnakes.  Field spot-check surveys conducted from the start of June to the end of August 2002, resulted in 3 sightings of Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes.  Numerous sightings by local residents indicated the approximate extent of the species' distribution in parts of the Sudbury District. Three recent (past 5 years), 3 reliable Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake sightings were reported in the Burwash area.   photograph ©2003 Mike Hall -- Joe Hamr, Director, Northern Environment Heritage Institute (NEHI), Cambrian College