Finding wolf homesites: improving the efficacy of howl surveys to study wolves.

ABSTRACT: Locating wolf (Canis lupus) homesites is valuable for understanding the foraging behavior, population dynamics, and reproductive ecology of wolves during summer. During this period wolf pack members (adults and pups) readily respond to simulated wolf howls (i.e., howl surveys), which allows researchers to estimate the location of the homesite via triangulation. Confirming the actual locations of homesites via ground truthing is labor intensive because of the error surrounding estimated locations. Our objectives were (1) to quantify observer error during howl surveys and compare amongst experience levels, (2) provide a simple method for locating homesites in the field by incorporating observer error, and (3) further document the value of this method for monitoring wolf packs througho

SUBMITTER: Gable TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6166618 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature