The science and ethics of wolf conservation
With another winter upon us, hundreds of more wolves will be killed at the hands of government-sanctioned control programs.
Marked by a long history of persecution and astonishing resilience, wolves continue to be in the crosshairs of both the public and policymakers. To date, BC’s controversial wolf cull has resulted in at least 1,944 wolves shot and killed from helicopters. In February 2024, Raincoast science director Chris Darimont and Raincoast large carnivore expert Paul Paquet responded to these staggering numbers by publishing a letter in the peer-reviewed journal Science. Their central message: wolf control, often presented as a “solution” to stabilize caribou populations, ultimately allows continued approval by governments of resource exploitation, including logging in habitats deemed “critical” to caribou. With another winter upon us, hundreds of more wolves will be killed at the hands of government-sanctioned control programs, not only under the guise of caribou recovery, but also for livestock protection, profit, and recreational purposes.
Guided by the inextricable link between science and ethics, our approach to conservation and wildlife management reform continues to be grounded in doing the most good and the least harm to people, animals, and the environment. Looking to 2025, we will continue to engage decision makers to work toward the implementation of provincial policy that respects the welfare of wolves and their ecological role.
Research remains a crucial element in our efforts to protect wolves in BC. Since 2022, we have been documenting wolf recovery in a tributary of the Fraser River and this year we have expanded our study to neighbouring watersheds. This research uses camera traps, acoustic recorders, and non-invasive genetics to better understand wolf behaviour and ecology while also examining general species dynamics in complex multi-predator, multi-prey ecosystems. In the context of genetic history, a fundamental question we aim to address is “who are these wolves?”
Using DNA extracted from fecal samples, we will improve our knowledge of the genetic origins and diversity of recovering populations, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of conservation strategies. Additionally, we are using GIS mapping to build a wolf habitat suitability model that will provide insights into habitat quality, distribution patterns, impact of human activities, and conservation priorities within the Lower Mainland region. Looking ahead to 2025, we will continue to deepen relationships with our First Nations partners whose knowledge and priorities help guide this work.
This is an excerpt from our annual report, Tracking Raincoast into 2025.
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Raincoast’s in-house scientists, collaborating graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professors make us unique among conservation groups. We work with First Nations, academic institutions, government, and other NGOs to build support and inform decisions that protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the wildlife that depend on them. We conduct ethically applied, process-oriented, and hypothesis-driven research that has immediate and relevant utility for conservation deliberations and the collective body of scientific knowledge.
We investigate to understand coastal species and processes. We inform by bringing science to decision-makers and communities. We inspire action to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.
