Wolves of
the Great Bear Rainforest
By
Miray Campbell
The Great Bear Rainforest is a haven for wolves. It supports one
of the most healthy and abundant populations in the world and
is one of the few places where, at the right time of year, wolves
can be readily viewed in their natural environment.
In the past, Grey Wolves lived in every habitat of the Northern
Hemisphere that supported large mammals. But today they are found
only in a handful of places in Canada and the United States. Although
Canada's west coast wolves are the same species as their continental
relatives, B.C.'s coastal wolves are notably different from their
interior relatives in a number of respects, leading scientists
to believe they may be genetically as well as geographically separate
from their continental kin.
The most apparent difference between the interior and coastal
wolf populations is that only on the coast are grey wolves known
to catch and eat salmon. This differs from the continental wolf's
diet which predominately consists of deer. If you are lucky enough
to explore a salmon spawning estuary in the Great Bear Rainforest
in the Autumn, you will likely see dozens of headless salmon scattered
along the riverbanks. Or better still, watch a wolf dash into
the river to grab a flapping silver salmon in it's mouth.
From scientific studies involving the wolves' DNA (taken from
scat), geneticists have found convincing evidence that coastal
wolves have unique genetic characteristics possibly from evolving
in isolation over several millennia.
Other subtle physical and behavioral differences that may have
evolved as a response to the marine rainforest environment these
wolves live in include coarser fur (better for shedding water)
and a smaller body size which may be contributed to the smaller
size of their prey (coastal deer being smaller then interior deer)
but also makes it easier for the wolf to move through the thick
coastal foliage.
Seeing these rare and magnificent animals or listening to a chorus
of their howling songs, is something to truly behold.
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